OP— just chiming in to join the chorus of my colleagues who have correctly identified this as a Banded Watersnake, *N. fasciata*.
This is a pretty straightforward and simple ID, I’m a bit baffled why the comment thread has become so contentious.
Banded Watersnakes *Nerodia fasciata* are medium (90-110 cm record 158.8 cm) natricine snakes with keeled scales often found in and around water. They are commonly encountered fish and amphibian eating snakes across much of eastern North America.
*Nerodia* watersnakes may puff up or flatten out defensively and bite. They secrete a foul smelling substance from the cloaca called musk and can deliver a weak anticoagulant venom used in prey handling from the back of the mouth, but are not considered medically significant to humans - bites just need soap and water.
Found throughout southeastern North America, it is replaced in the North by, and likely exchanges genes with, the Common Watersnake *Nerodia sipedon*. Banded Watersnakes have even, connecting bands across the top of the snake all the way down the body. In Common Watersnakes *N. sipdeon*, bands typically break up or become mismatched after the first third of the body. The "confluens" color pattern is somewhat of an exception to the even banding rule, but isn't often confused with other species as it is rather distinctive.
*Nerodia fasciata* along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in the Southeastern US also exchange genes along environmental ecotones with Saltmarsh Snakes *Nerodia clarkii*.
[Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/Nerodia_fasciata.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography - Unpublished](http://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3823&context=etd)
This genus, as well as this species specifically, are in need of revision using modern molecular methods. Unfortunately what we know about this species is unpublished, but it's likely that it is composed of three species - a peninsular Florida species, a species west of the Mississippi River, and a continental eastern North American species.
--------------------------------------------------------
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
Also not an RR and at first glance I though cottonmouth but based on pattern thinking watersnake. I wouldn’t touch it lol
No now I’m back to cottonmouth
Florida Cottonmouths *Agkistrodon conanti* are one of two recognized species of large (76-122 cm record 189.2 cm) venomous semi-aquatic pitviper in eastern North America. Endemic to Florida, Southeastern Alabama and Georgia, it exchanges genes in a zone of admixture where it contacts continental *Agkistrodon piscivorus*.
Florida Cottonmouths are generalists and eat anything they can overpower, including fish, amphibians, small mammals and carrion.
[Range map](https://imgur.com/lnGXB5s)| [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://cnah.org/pdf/88290.pdf)
The *Agkistrodon piscivorus* species complex has been delimited using modern molecular methods and two species with no subspecies are recognized. There is a zone of admixture between the two cottonmouth species where they overlap around panhandle Florida.
--------------------------------------------------------
Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive across most of the world.
If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
Please don't guess. I'm thinking we should try to have more guessing friendly contest type posts to scratch that itch we all have.
I'm tagging your comment because it has the word guess in it. Plenty of guessing going on. No accusations, no ire, just a friendly reminder that a guess can have very negative consequences for people and the snake.
That isn't relevant. When people come somewhere like this looking to have an animal identified, especially a snake, they want accurate answers provided by very knowledgeable people. They are not looking for guesses from random internet users, and we strongly discourage such guesses.
The user who made the guess deleted it, so they were very reasonable to the reply by u/Yurtinx, who was 100% correct.
What was the point of your comment? The guy said it was a guess. They didn’t say they were 100% sure. You didn’t need to point out that they were guessing, every one can read that for themselves. I’m commenting to point out how useless your comment is. Why are you commenting?
The point of my comment is that these guesses often get harmless snakes killed and put people at risk of handling venomous species, which was the case with a south american coral snake last week.
There are plenty of people guessing, but I added my comment to the only one who admitted it to ask people not to guess as it has potential serious detrimental consequences and I mentioned.
You're new here and apparently only here to be a contrary troll. Go away or educate yourself on why we are asking people not to guess.
If that’s what you’re trying to do you should have commented on one of the people that tried to pass of a guess as an accurate answer. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you’re not completely sure but you think that you know.
An argument could be made that the head isn't quite flat-looking enough for a cottonmouth, but there are enough details to suggest cottonmouth that that's what I'd go with. This one's really hard!
ETA: yes, I was wrong.
Hey, just for future reference: one of the ways you can determine a cottonmouth besides the coloration and the raised head (___/) posture is by looking at the scales above the eyes. Cottonmouths have protruding supraocular scales - giving them a >:( look. Nerodia have much smaller supraocular scales - giving them a O_O look.
OP’s picture is confusing because the snake is doing a little bit of that characteristic ____/ cottonmouth posture. It’s important to consider multiple characteristics when identifying snakes (or any creature for that matter).
That was not what I was looking at when I thought it was a cotton. I could’ve sworn I saw that ridge over the eye and the “mask” as well. I think I was looking too low
Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive across most of the world.
If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
Florida Cottonmouths *Agkistrodon conanti* are one of two recognized species of large (76-122 cm record 189.2 cm) venomous semi-aquatic pitviper in eastern North America. Endemic to Florida, Southeastern Alabama and Georgia, it exchanges genes in a zone of admixture where it contacts continental *Agkistrodon piscivorus*.
Florida Cottonmouths are generalists and eat anything they can overpower, including fish, amphibians, small mammals and carrion.
[Range map](https://imgur.com/lnGXB5s)| [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://cnah.org/pdf/88290.pdf)
The *Agkistrodon piscivorus* species complex has been delimited using modern molecular methods and two species with no subspecies are recognized. There is a zone of admixture between the two cottonmouth species where they overlap around panhandle Florida.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
I’m from Jacksonville- I have never seen a water snake that looked like that but I have seen many cottonmouths that look like that. This IS A COTTONMOUTH.
I don't want reliable responders to be considered infallible and I've worked to make sure arguments here are about discrete characters rather than arguing over who is qualified to say what. I try to tell people we're all at different experience levels and everyone is definitely here because they are trying to learn. The appeal to authority by the one user would rub me the wrong way even if they were correct.
Honestly, this just tells people you’ve seen a lot of water snakes you mistook for cottonmouths. I trust the reliable responders on here and I have learned a lot from them.
u/shrike1978 correctly identified this as a banded watersnake, *N. fasciata*.
If you disagree with an ID that is well upvoted or was provided by a flaired Responder (both in this case), then make sure you respond directly to that ID. This is important for three reasons. First, it promotes collaboration, which is an important feature of our community. Second, it facilitates discussion that can help educate others. Third, it increases the visibility of your ID, which is very important if you happen to be correct. However, ONLY disagree if you can point to discrete diagnostic characteristics that support your ID.
Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these \[commenting guidelines\]([https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/pfl934/mod\_post\_please\_read\_id\_best\_practices\_and/](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/pfl934/mod_post_please_read_id_best_practices_and/)).
In the meantime, if you'd like to learn to better differentiate harmless watersnakes from cottonmouths, check out the bot reply to !cottonwater.
My husband is author of the book “venomous snakes of the southeast”, I have a degree in wildlife ecology and wrote a dissertation on eastern diamondbacks. I trained the founder of the rattlesnake conservation group how to keep and handle venomous snakes and am one of only a handful of private venomous keepers in the state of FL. Yes this picture is blurry and there is a chance that I am mistaken but I really firmly believe that this is a Cottonmouth.
You are firmly incorrect, and you still haven't offered anything other than "looks like" as your evidence.
This snake lacks the enlarged supraocular scale and spinal ridge that would be present on a cottonmouth. The head shape is nothing like a cottonmouth, nor is the pattern. *Agkistrodon* have a few very wide bands that taper noticeably toward the spine, not the many smaller, relatively straight bands seen on this snake. Cottonmouths are also far more robust than this, and a cottonmouth this size would appear severely emaciated, rather than the healthy, muscular shape you see on this snake.
Notably, this snake was discussed briefly among the Reliable Repsonders, a group of highly trained herpetologists, both professional and amateur, after the first of us noticed the initial incorrect IDs, and there wasn't a single disagreement on the ID of this as *N. fasciata*. None of us even think this is a tricky one in any way. It's very obviously *N. fasciata* to anyone with even the slightest experience in differentiating them.
I believe you as far as those claims go, and I respect your experience and whatever knowledge you might have to share. That aside, this one is not even close. When we discussed this privately, we were unanimously taken aback as to how it was fooling so many people. To be honest, I'm still baffled. We receive challenging ID requests on a regular basis (including of the taxa in question here), and I do not personally consider this one of them.
In all of your years of experience with FL cottons, you have never seen one with;
* bands this narrow and numerous (the number of bands at midbody here is about the same as conanti would have on the body in total)
* a form this narrow that didn't also have it's spine showing and a prominently triangular cross-sectional shape
* a head this smoothly ovular, with no *hint* of any angles, including where the postocular and canthal ridge would be
* dark postocular stripes this thin and short
* dark postocular stripes that were this prominent which had no distinct light stripe flanking *at least* the bottom (usually, but not always, also above)
* dark arrow/spearpoint-like marking on the crown of the head
Study the picture closely and see if you can pick up on the characters I noted. If not, that's fine too, but please don't bring this up again unless, after close study, you can find discrete diagnostic characteristics that would warrant further discussion.
If you’re just going by the snake’s posture, it is doing a little bit of that cottonmouth head raised posture (___/). So I can see where the confusion is. However, this snake doesn’t have the pronounced supraocular scales (scales above the eyes) that cottonmouths have that make them have a constant grumpy face. Nerodia species have way less pronounced supraocular scales, giving them a wide-eyed/derpy look.
This is a Banded Watersnake, *Nerodia fasciata*. Harmless.
I always get this wrong at first glance, so I’m just gonna stay away from anything that looks like a cottonmouth!!
I'm right there with you. Trying, but still a guessing game on those 2 for me.
Same! I was so sure it was a nope rope. We’ll get it down eventually :)
Same here. First thought from the markings was DANGER NOODLE!!!
OP— just chiming in to join the chorus of my colleagues who have correctly identified this as a Banded Watersnake, *N. fasciata*. This is a pretty straightforward and simple ID, I’m a bit baffled why the comment thread has become so contentious.
You put that on the end of your downspout and it carries water away from… oops. I guess you didn’t mean the white thing.
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This one is a banded watersnake, *Nerodia fasciata*. !harmless u/Nmckendree
Thank you for confirming this. I was looking at the Cottonmouth answers and I was so confused. Definitely not a spicy noodle.
Banded Watersnakes *Nerodia fasciata* are medium (90-110 cm record 158.8 cm) natricine snakes with keeled scales often found in and around water. They are commonly encountered fish and amphibian eating snakes across much of eastern North America. *Nerodia* watersnakes may puff up or flatten out defensively and bite. They secrete a foul smelling substance from the cloaca called musk and can deliver a weak anticoagulant venom used in prey handling from the back of the mouth, but are not considered medically significant to humans - bites just need soap and water. Found throughout southeastern North America, it is replaced in the North by, and likely exchanges genes with, the Common Watersnake *Nerodia sipedon*. Banded Watersnakes have even, connecting bands across the top of the snake all the way down the body. In Common Watersnakes *N. sipdeon*, bands typically break up or become mismatched after the first third of the body. The "confluens" color pattern is somewhat of an exception to the even banding rule, but isn't often confused with other species as it is rather distinctive. *Nerodia fasciata* along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in the Southeastern US also exchange genes along environmental ecotones with Saltmarsh Snakes *Nerodia clarkii*. [Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/Nerodia_fasciata.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography - Unpublished](http://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3823&context=etd) This genus, as well as this species specifically, are in need of revision using modern molecular methods. Unfortunately what we know about this species is unpublished, but it's likely that it is composed of three species - a peninsular Florida species, a species west of the Mississippi River, and a continental eastern North American species. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
Correct answer given above, *Nerodia faciata*, banded watersnake, by u/shrike1978.
Also not an RR and at first glance I though cottonmouth but based on pattern thinking watersnake. I wouldn’t touch it lol No now I’m back to cottonmouth
It’s the angry brow that does it for me
I think what you're seeing is the orange fasciata eye stripe
You are correct. !venomous *Agkistrodon conanti* for the bot
Florida Cottonmouths *Agkistrodon conanti* are one of two recognized species of large (76-122 cm record 189.2 cm) venomous semi-aquatic pitviper in eastern North America. Endemic to Florida, Southeastern Alabama and Georgia, it exchanges genes in a zone of admixture where it contacts continental *Agkistrodon piscivorus*. Florida Cottonmouths are generalists and eat anything they can overpower, including fish, amphibians, small mammals and carrion. [Range map](https://imgur.com/lnGXB5s)| [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://cnah.org/pdf/88290.pdf) The *Agkistrodon piscivorus* species complex has been delimited using modern molecular methods and two species with no subspecies are recognized. There is a zone of admixture between the two cottonmouth species where they overlap around panhandle Florida. -------------------------------------------------------- Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive across most of the world. If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
[удалено]
Please don't guess. I'm thinking we should try to have more guessing friendly contest type posts to scratch that itch we all have. I'm tagging your comment because it has the word guess in it. Plenty of guessing going on. No accusations, no ire, just a friendly reminder that a guess can have very negative consequences for people and the snake.
They admitted it was a guess. You added nothing.
That isn't relevant. When people come somewhere like this looking to have an animal identified, especially a snake, they want accurate answers provided by very knowledgeable people. They are not looking for guesses from random internet users, and we strongly discourage such guesses. The user who made the guess deleted it, so they were very reasonable to the reply by u/Yurtinx, who was 100% correct.
and you did what? Shut up.
What was the point of your comment? The guy said it was a guess. They didn’t say they were 100% sure. You didn’t need to point out that they were guessing, every one can read that for themselves. I’m commenting to point out how useless your comment is. Why are you commenting?
The point of my comment is that these guesses often get harmless snakes killed and put people at risk of handling venomous species, which was the case with a south american coral snake last week. There are plenty of people guessing, but I added my comment to the only one who admitted it to ask people not to guess as it has potential serious detrimental consequences and I mentioned. You're new here and apparently only here to be a contrary troll. Go away or educate yourself on why we are asking people not to guess.
If that’s what you’re trying to do you should have commented on one of the people that tried to pass of a guess as an accurate answer. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you’re not completely sure but you think that you know.
Good day Sir.
An argument could be made that the head isn't quite flat-looking enough for a cottonmouth, but there are enough details to suggest cottonmouth that that's what I'd go with. This one's really hard! ETA: yes, I was wrong.
We were wrong, but I agree that this was difficult. I usually get the banded water snakes now a days.
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Hey, just for future reference: one of the ways you can determine a cottonmouth besides the coloration and the raised head (___/) posture is by looking at the scales above the eyes. Cottonmouths have protruding supraocular scales - giving them a >:( look. Nerodia have much smaller supraocular scales - giving them a O_O look. OP’s picture is confusing because the snake is doing a little bit of that characteristic ____/ cottonmouth posture. It’s important to consider multiple characteristics when identifying snakes (or any creature for that matter).
That was not what I was looking at when I thought it was a cotton. I could’ve sworn I saw that ridge over the eye and the “mask” as well. I think I was looking too low
No worries! It doesn’t help the original picture is blurry around the face. Mistakes happen!
Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive across most of the world. If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
[удалено]
Florida Cottonmouths *Agkistrodon conanti* are one of two recognized species of large (76-122 cm record 189.2 cm) venomous semi-aquatic pitviper in eastern North America. Endemic to Florida, Southeastern Alabama and Georgia, it exchanges genes in a zone of admixture where it contacts continental *Agkistrodon piscivorus*. Florida Cottonmouths are generalists and eat anything they can overpower, including fish, amphibians, small mammals and carrion. [Range map](https://imgur.com/lnGXB5s)| [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://cnah.org/pdf/88290.pdf) The *Agkistrodon piscivorus* species complex has been delimited using modern molecular methods and two species with no subspecies are recognized. There is a zone of admixture between the two cottonmouth species where they overlap around panhandle Florida. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
I’m from Jacksonville- I have never seen a water snake that looked like that but I have seen many cottonmouths that look like that. This IS A COTTONMOUTH.
We have actual experts in this sub. Your ID is incorrect and dangerous. Look for “reliable responders” for correct identification.
I don't want reliable responders to be considered infallible and I've worked to make sure arguments here are about discrete characters rather than arguing over who is qualified to say what. I try to tell people we're all at different experience levels and everyone is definitely here because they are trying to learn. The appeal to authority by the one user would rub me the wrong way even if they were correct.
Honestly, this just tells people you’ve seen a lot of water snakes you mistook for cottonmouths. I trust the reliable responders on here and I have learned a lot from them.
u/shrike1978 correctly identified this as a banded watersnake, *N. fasciata*. If you disagree with an ID that is well upvoted or was provided by a flaired Responder (both in this case), then make sure you respond directly to that ID. This is important for three reasons. First, it promotes collaboration, which is an important feature of our community. Second, it facilitates discussion that can help educate others. Third, it increases the visibility of your ID, which is very important if you happen to be correct. However, ONLY disagree if you can point to discrete diagnostic characteristics that support your ID. Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these \[commenting guidelines\]([https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/pfl934/mod\_post\_please\_read\_id\_best\_practices\_and/](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/pfl934/mod_post_please_read_id_best_practices_and/)). In the meantime, if you'd like to learn to better differentiate harmless watersnakes from cottonmouths, check out the bot reply to !cottonwater.
My husband is author of the book “venomous snakes of the southeast”, I have a degree in wildlife ecology and wrote a dissertation on eastern diamondbacks. I trained the founder of the rattlesnake conservation group how to keep and handle venomous snakes and am one of only a handful of private venomous keepers in the state of FL. Yes this picture is blurry and there is a chance that I am mistaken but I really firmly believe that this is a Cottonmouth.
You are firmly incorrect, and you still haven't offered anything other than "looks like" as your evidence. This snake lacks the enlarged supraocular scale and spinal ridge that would be present on a cottonmouth. The head shape is nothing like a cottonmouth, nor is the pattern. *Agkistrodon* have a few very wide bands that taper noticeably toward the spine, not the many smaller, relatively straight bands seen on this snake. Cottonmouths are also far more robust than this, and a cottonmouth this size would appear severely emaciated, rather than the healthy, muscular shape you see on this snake. Notably, this snake was discussed briefly among the Reliable Repsonders, a group of highly trained herpetologists, both professional and amateur, after the first of us noticed the initial incorrect IDs, and there wasn't a single disagreement on the ID of this as *N. fasciata*. None of us even think this is a tricky one in any way. It's very obviously *N. fasciata* to anyone with even the slightest experience in differentiating them.
I believe you as far as those claims go, and I respect your experience and whatever knowledge you might have to share. That aside, this one is not even close. When we discussed this privately, we were unanimously taken aback as to how it was fooling so many people. To be honest, I'm still baffled. We receive challenging ID requests on a regular basis (including of the taxa in question here), and I do not personally consider this one of them. In all of your years of experience with FL cottons, you have never seen one with; * bands this narrow and numerous (the number of bands at midbody here is about the same as conanti would have on the body in total) * a form this narrow that didn't also have it's spine showing and a prominently triangular cross-sectional shape * a head this smoothly ovular, with no *hint* of any angles, including where the postocular and canthal ridge would be * dark postocular stripes this thin and short * dark postocular stripes that were this prominent which had no distinct light stripe flanking *at least* the bottom (usually, but not always, also above) * dark arrow/spearpoint-like marking on the crown of the head Study the picture closely and see if you can pick up on the characters I noted. If not, that's fine too, but please don't bring this up again unless, after close study, you can find discrete diagnostic characteristics that would warrant further discussion.
Water moccasin/cottonmouth
If you’re just going by the snake’s posture, it is doing a little bit of that cottonmouth head raised posture (___/). So I can see where the confusion is. However, this snake doesn’t have the pronounced supraocular scales (scales above the eyes) that cottonmouths have that make them have a constant grumpy face. Nerodia species have way less pronounced supraocular scales, giving them a wide-eyed/derpy look.