Florida Snakes That Are Brown & Black

Black Snakes

• Seven species of black snakes live in Florida and adjacent southeastern states. Of these black snakes, one species bears distinct brown markings, while others exhibit colors possibly mistaken for brown. The juvenile black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) exhibits brown splotches down its back and an otherwise black body. The black pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) may have a combination of black and dark brown scales. Black rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta obsolete) may have intermittent white markings that appear beige against black scales, while the black swamp snake (Seminatrix pygaea) has an orange belly colored like an earthen pot, a hue possibly mistaken for brown.

Venomous Snakes

• Six species of venomous snakes live in Florida. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), the most dangerous of Florida's venomous snakes, exhibits brown and beige scales with black, diamond-shaped splotches down its back. Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) exhibit a number of color patterns, though all involve brown, beige or reddish brown and patches of black. Pygmy dusk rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) are black and gray with brown or beige spots. The cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus), or water moccasin, is the most common of Florida's venomous snakes and displays reddish, brown, beige and dark brown scales, though darkly colored snakes may appear brown and black.

Snakes with Black and Brown Markings

• Numerous species of Florida snakes may exhibit black and brown markings, along with other colors such as beige, orange and red. Snakes with such markings include the brown, black, red or orange-banded eastern hognose (Heterodon platirhinos); the black, gray, brown and tan gray rat snake (Pantherophis spiloides); eastern coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum), a brown snake with dark, sometimes back markings; the tan, black-headed southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata); and the Mississippi green water snake, a pale serpent with greenish tan scales and dark markings.

Other Snakes

• Some Florida snakes that are not actually brown or black may appear so to the naked eye. The Florida green water snake (Nerodia floridana), for instance, appears black and brown but is actually green and brown. Other snakes with dark green scales that appear black include the plainbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster), the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and queen snake (Regina septemvittata). Snakes that exhibit a number of colors which appear either black or brown include the rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma), striped crayfish snake (Regina alleni) and the glossy crayfish snake (Regina rigida).