Snakes and spiders in Marion County, Florida
Marion County, home of Ocala, has 30 snake and 33 spider species on record, from 495 licensed snake and 214 spider records. Venomous species here: the pygmy rattlesnake, the eastern coral snake, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the Florida cottonmouth, the northern cottonmouth, the southern black widow, the brown widow and the red widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Marion County?
Yes. The pygmy rattlesnake: 46 licensed records, 10% of all Florida records of it. The eastern coral snake: 28 licensed records, 12% of all Florida records of it. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake: 28 licensed records, 7% of all Florida records of it. The Florida cottonmouth: 10 licensed records, 2% of all Florida records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 9 licensed records, 3% of all Florida records of it. The southern black widow: 3 licensed records, 6% of all Florida records of it. The brown widow: 2 licensed records, 1% of all Florida records of it. The red widow: 2 licensed records, 12% of all Florida records of it.
What snakes are in Marion County?
In all, 30 snake species are on the Marion County list. The most recorded are the pygmy rattlesnake (46), the eastern racer (37) and the eastern coral snake (28).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | 46 | 10% |
| 2 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 37 | 2% |
| 3 | Eastern coral snake venomous Micrurus fulvius | 28 | 12% |
| 4 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus adamanteus | 28 | 7% |
| 5 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 28 | 2% |
| 6 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 25 | 7% |
| 7 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 22 | 3% |
| 8 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 20 | 19% |
| 9 | Striped crayfish snake Liodytes alleni | 18 | 5% |
| 10 | Black swamp snake Liodytes pygaea | 17 | 4% |
| 11 | Florida crowned snake Tantilla relicta | 14 | 8% |
| 12 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 13 | 7% |
| 13 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 13 | 7% |
| 14 | Pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata | 13 | 13% |
| 15 | Scarlet kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides | 13 | 18% |
| 16 | Short-tailed snake Lampropeltis extenuata | 13 | 36% |
| 17 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 12 | 2% |
| 18 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 12 | 2% |
| 19 | Florida cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon conanti | 10 | 2% |
| 20 | Pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus | 10 | 16% |
| 21 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 10 | 2% |
| 22 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 9 | 3% |
| 23 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 9 | 4% |
| 24 | Southern hognose snake Heterodon simus | 7 | 22% |
| 25 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 6 | 5% |
| 26 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 6 | 3% |
| 27 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | 5 | 2% |
| 28 | Florida green water snake Nerodia floridana | 4 | 1% |
| 29 | Brahminy blindsnake introduced Indotyphlops braminus | — | — |
| 30 | Florida brown snake Storeria victa | — | — |
When are snakes out in Marion County?
Observation records of snakes in Marion County run through most of the year, peaking in July with 16% of them; across Florida the peak is March.
What spiders are in Marion County?
In all, 33 spider species are on the Marion County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (18), Leucauge argyrobapta (18) and the green lynx spider (8).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 18 | 2% |
| 2 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 18 | 3% |
| 3 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 8 | 2% |
| 4 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 8 | 2% |
| 5 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 7 | 2% |
| 6 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 7 | 4% |
| 7 | Regal jumper Phidippus regius | 5 | 2% |
| 8 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 5 | 1% |
| 9 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 4 | 2% |
| 10 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 4 | 3% |
| 11 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 3 | 5% |
| 12 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 3 | 3% |
| 13 | Canopy jumping spider Phidippus otiosus | 3 | 11% |
| 14 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 3 | 7% |
| 15 | Florida garden spider Argiope florida | 3 | 6% |
| 16 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 3 | 2% |
| 17 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 3 | 6% |
| 18 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 2 | 1% |
| 19 | Giant swamp fishing spider Dolomedes okefinokensis | 2 | 12% |
| 20 | Red widow venomous Latrodectus bishopi | 2 | 12% |
| 21 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 6% |
| 22 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 2 | 3% |
| 23 | Gray wall jumper Menemerus bivittatus | 1 | 0% |
| 24 | Huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria | 1 | 1% |
| 25 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | 1 | 2% |
| 26 | Tigrosa annexa | 1 | 1% |
| 27 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | — | — |
| 28 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | — | — |
| 29 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | — | — |
| 30 | Giant lichen orbweaver Araneus bicentenarius | — | — |
| 31 | Ogre-faced spider Deinopis spinosa | — | — |
| 32 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | — | — |
| 33 | Tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla | — | — |
When are spiders out in Marion County?
Observation records of spiders in Marion County run mostly April through December, peaking in April with 19% of them, the same peak as Florida as a whole.
What stands out in Marion County
Species for which Marion County holds a large share of all Florida records: the short-tailed snake, 36% (13 of 36); the eastern hog-nosed snake, 19% (20 of 106); the scarlet kingsnake, 18% (13 of 71); the pine snake, 16% (10 of 62).
Common in Florida, not on the Marion County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Florida, these do not reach the county list: the Burmese python (8,141 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Florida, these do not reach the county list: the greater leucauge (514 statewide) and the arabesque orbweaver (197 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Marion County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Florida list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the corn snake, the eastern hog-nosed snake and the eastern rat snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake, the brown water snake, the mud snake and the Florida green water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake and the pine snake. Coral snakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the scarlet kingsnake and the scarlet snake. Recluse spiders are not on the Florida list, but GBIF holds 1 recluse spider record of any license in Florida (brown recluse 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Marion County among Florida counties
By licensed snake records Marion County ranks 8th of 67 Florida counties with any.
Other Florida counties with their own page: Miami-Dade County, Collier County, Alachua County, Monroe County, Broward County, Lee County, Orange County and Palm Beach County.
The whole state: venomous species in Florida, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.