Florida Brown Snake

Description:

9–13 in (23-33 cm) -– brown to gray snakes, with keeled scales, a light band across the back of the neck, and dark pigment on the lip scales. There are often a series of tiny black dots along each side of the belly. This snake looks similar to the earth snakes (Virginia sp.) but those species lack spots on the head and along the sides of the belly. Rough earth snakes (V. striatula) have a much more pointed head than Storeria. They can be distinguished from redbellied snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata) by their lack of red underside and from the other brown snakes (Storeria dekayi) by geographic range and presence of light neck band. Some authorities consider the Florida brown snake to be a subspecies of the more widespread brown snake

Habitat:

This species is closely related to the brown snake (Storeria dekayi), and replaces this species in southeastern Georgia and peninsular Florida. This species can be found in a variety of habitats but is most common is moist habitats with abundant ground cover. Such habitats include hardwood hammocks, swamp and wetland margins, and even suburban yards. Florida brown snakes are fossorial, meaning they prefer to burrow rather than slithering about on the surface of the land. They are also nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the nighttime. They are shy and nonaggressive towards people, preferring to hide from humans rather than confront them. Because they are nonvenomous, a bite from a Florida brown snake is completely harmless other than the slight risk of infection.

Notes:

Most of the Florida brown snake’s diet consists of earthworms and slugs but it is an opportunistic hunter and will eat anything it can get its jaws around. This means that Florida brown snakes will eat small reptiles, frogs, toads, lizards, fish, insects, small birds and even other snakes. Florida brown snakes are opportunistic hunters and will latch onto any animal that comes its way. This species does not rely on venom or constriction to subdue its prey, but rather on brute jaw strength.