Saltmarsh Snake
- Scientific Name
- Nerodia clarkii
- Also Known As
- Saltmarsh Snake
- Range
- The Coasts of Florida
- Diet
- Fish
- Life Expectancy
- 9 Years
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Saltmarsh Snakes in Central Florida
The saltmarsh snake (Nerodia clarkii) is a semiaquatic colubrid species that inhabits coastal wetlands and marshy areas of the southeastern United States. In Florida, saltmarsh snakes are found along both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.
This article provides detailed identification tips, biology facts, and information on saltmarsh snake habits and distribution within central Florida.
Saltmarsh Snake Subspecies in Central Florida
Mangrove Saltmarsh Snake
The mangrove saltmarsh snake (Nerodia clarkii ssp. compressicauda) is a special subspecies of the saltmarsh snake found only in mangrove swamps along the southern Florida coast. Genetic testing shows the mangrove snakes are isolated and have evolved differently, which is why they are considered a separate subspecies.
Mangrove saltmarsh snakes are smaller, around 20-28 inches long, compared to their northern relatives. They also have a darker color and more strongly ridged scales. Living only in mangroves, their smaller size and different scales seem adapted to that habitat.
Protecting the fragile mangrove ecosystems is crucial for the mangrove snake’s survival, since they are already declining from wetland loss. Calling them a distinct subspecies highlights the need to protect their mangrove home in southern Florida.