Snakes in Florida
Florida has 49 snake species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 20,833 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the Burmese python, the eastern racer and the southern watersnake. Seven of them are venomous.
Rattlesnakes in Florida
Rattlesnakes: three species are listed for Florida, with 859 records (4% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the pygmy rattlesnake (439), ahead of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (396).
Observation records of the pygmy rattlesnake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Liberty County, Marion County and Miami-Dade County. Observation records of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Liberty County and Wakulla County.
Copperheads and cottonmouths in Florida
Copperheads and cottonmouths: three species are listed for Florida, with 759 records (4% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the Florida cottonmouth (461), ahead of the northern cottonmouth (279).
Observation records of the Florida cottonmouth in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Collier County and Alachua County. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth in Florida come from Miami-Dade County, Liberty County and Collier County.
Coral snakes in Florida
One species of this group is listed for Florida: the eastern coral snake, with 238 records (1% of the state's snake records).
Observation records of the eastern coral snake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Marion County and Citrus County.
Water snakes and swamp snakes in Florida
Water snakes and swamp snakes: 13 species are listed for Florida, with 3,869 records (19% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the southern watersnake (1,488), ahead of the black swamp snake (431).
Plus one: Queen snake.
Observation records of the southern watersnake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Alachua County and Orange County. Most licensed records of the black swamp snake in Florida come from Alachua County, Glades County and Marion County. Observation records of the Florida green water snake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Alachua County and Glades County.
Garter snakes and ribbon snakes in Florida
Garter snakes and ribbon snakes: two species are listed for Florida, with 1,301 records (6% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the eastern ribbonsnake (754), ahead of the common garter snake (547).
Observation records of the eastern ribbonsnake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Lee County and Alachua County. Observation records of the common garter snake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Martin County and Highlands County.
Rat snakes and corn snakes in Florida
Rat snakes and corn snakes: three species are listed for Florida, with 844 records (4% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the corn snake (700), ahead of the eastern rat snake (131).
Observation records of the corn snake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Monroe County and Lee County. Observation records of the eastern rat snake in Florida run mostly December through August, peaking in December; most licensed records come from Palm Beach County, Monroe County and Miami-Dade County.
Kingsnakes and milksnakes in Florida
Kingsnakes and milksnakes are a small part of the snake record here: four species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the eastern kingsnake (184), ahead of the scarlet kingsnake (71).
Most licensed records of the eastern kingsnake in Florida come from Miami-Dade County, Collier County and Alachua County. Most licensed records of the scarlet kingsnake in Florida come from Marion County, Alachua County and Gulf County. Most licensed records of the eastern milksnake in Florida come from Gulf County, Palm Beach County and Alachua County.
Racers, whipsnakes and indigo snakes in Florida
Racers, whipsnakes and indigo snakes: three species are listed for Florida, with 1,857 records (9% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the eastern racer (1,639), ahead of the coachwhip (180).
Observation records of the eastern racer in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Lee County and Alachua County. Observation records of the coachwhip in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Polk County, Highlands County and Citrus County. Most licensed records of the eastern indigo snake in Florida come from Alachua County, Marion County and Monroe County.
Gopher snakes, bullsnakes and pine snakes in Florida
One species of this group is listed for Florida: the pine snake, with 62 records (0.3% of the state's snake records).
Most licensed records of the pine snake in Florida come from Alachua County, Marion County and Liberty County.
Hognose snakes in Florida
Hognose snakes are a small part of the snake record here: two species with 0.7% of records between them. The most recorded is the eastern hog-nosed snake (106), ahead of the southern hognose snake (32).
Most licensed records of the eastern hog-nosed snake in Florida come from Marion County, Alachua County and Polk County. Most licensed records of the southern hognose snake in Florida come from Citrus County, Marion County and Alachua County.
Green snakes in Florida
One species of this group is listed for Florida: the rough greensnake, with 213 records (1% of the state's snake records).
Observation records of the rough greensnake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Alachua County and Monroe County.
Small woodland and burrowing snakes in Florida
Small woodland and burrowing snakes: eleven species are listed for Florida, with 1,434 records (7% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the ring-necked snake (472), ahead of the scarlet snake (214).
Observation records of the ring-necked snake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Alachua County and Lee County. Observation records of the scarlet snake in Florida run mostly December through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Liberty County, Collier County and Miami-Dade County. Observation records of the Brahminy blindsnake in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Collier County and Broward County.
Boas and pythons in Florida
Boas and pythons dominate the snake record of Florida: two species and 39% of all records. The most recorded is the Burmese python (8,141), ahead of Boa constrictor (39).
Observation records of the Burmese python in Florida run mostly May through January, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Collier County and Broward County. Most licensed records of Boa constrictor in Florida come from Miami-Dade County, St. Lucie County and Broward County.
Where in Florida are snakes recorded most?
Miami-Dade County dominates: 31% of the state's licensed snake records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 60%. 67 of Florida's 67 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami-Dade County | 6,533 | 31.4% |
| 2 | Collier County | 2,428 | 11.7% |
| 3 | Alachua County | 1,290 | 6.2% |
| 4 | Monroe County | 1,218 | 5.8% |
| 5 | Broward County | 1,057 | 5.1% |
| 6 | Lee County | 660 | 3.2% |
| 7 | Orange County | 574 | 2.8% |
| 8 | Marion County | 495 | 2.4% |
| 9 | Palm Beach County | 432 | 2.1% |
| 10 | Glades County | 421 | 2.0% |
| 11 | Liberty County | 413 | 2.0% |
| 12 | Franklin County | 319 | 1.5% |
When do snakes come out in Florida?
Observation records of snakes in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March with 15% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 22% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from February to March.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 10% | 15% | 12% | 10% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 7% |
Snakes: Florida compared with its neighbors
Florida ranks 5th of 50 states by the number of snake species listed; Texas leads with 86 species.
Florida lists more snake species than any state it borders (Florida: 49 species; Alabama 44, Georgia 44).
What snakes are in Florida? All 49 species
Ranked by licensed records in Florida. Species with a profile page are linked.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burmese python introduced Python bivittatus | Pythonidae | 8,141 | 39.1% |
| 2 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | Colubridae | 1,639 | 7.9% |
| 3 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | Colubridae | 1,488 | 7.1% |
| 4 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | Colubridae | 754 | 3.6% |
| 5 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | Colubridae | 700 | 3.4% |
| 6 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | Colubridae | 547 | 2.6% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | Colubridae | 472 | 2.3% |
| 8 | Florida cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon conanti | Viperidae | 461 | 2.2% |
| 9 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | Viperidae | 439 | 2.1% |
| 10 | Black swamp snake Liodytes pygaea | Colubridae | 431 | 2.1% |
| 11 | Florida green water snake Nerodia floridana | Colubridae | 431 | 2.1% |
| 12 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus adamanteus | Viperidae | 396 | 1.9% |
| 13 | Striped crayfish snake Liodytes alleni | Colubridae | 369 | 1.8% |
| 14 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | Colubridae | 350 | 1.7% |
| 15 | Salt marsh snake Nerodia clarkii | Colubridae | 293 | 1.4% |
| 16 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | Viperidae | 279 | 1.3% |
| 17 | Eastern coral snake venomous Micrurus fulvius | Elapidae | 238 | 1.1% |
| 18 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | Colubridae | 214 | 1.0% |
| 19 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | Colubridae | 213 | 1.0% |
| 20 | Brahminy blindsnake introduced Indotyphlops braminus | Typhlopidae | 206 | 1.0% |
| 21 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | Colubridae | 188 | 0.9% |
| 22 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | Colubridae | 184 | 0.9% |
| 23 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | Colubridae | 180 | 0.9% |
| 24 | Florida crowned snake Tantilla relicta | Colubridae | 179 | 0.9% |
| 25 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | Colubridae | 131 | 0.6% |
| 26 | Florida brown snake Storeria victa | Colubridae | 125 | 0.6% |
| 27 | Green water snake Nerodia cyclopion | Colubridae | 111 | 0.5% |
| 28 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | Colubridae | 106 | 0.5% |
| 29 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | Colubridae | 104 | 0.5% |
| 30 | Pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata | Colubridae | 103 | 0.5% |
| 31 | Scarlet kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides | Colubridae | 71 | 0.3% |
| 32 | Pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus | Colubridae | 62 | 0.3% |
| 33 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | Colubridae | 48 | 0.2% |
| 34 | Crayfish snake Liodytes rigida | Colubridae | 47 | 0.2% |
| 35 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | Colubridae | 41 | 0.2% |
| 36 | introduced Boa constrictor | Boidae | 39 | 0.2% |
| 37 | Eastern indigo snake Drymarchon couperi | Colubridae | 38 | 0.2% |
| 38 | Short-tailed snake Lampropeltis extenuata | Colubridae | 36 | 0.2% |
| 39 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | Colubridae | 35 | 0.2% |
| 40 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | Colubridae | 34 | 0.2% |
| 41 | Southern hognose snake Heterodon simus | Colubridae | 32 | 0.2% |
| 42 | Southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata | Colubridae | 24 | 0.1% |
| 43 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | Viperidae | 24 | 0.1% |
| 44 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | Viperidae | 19 | 0.1% |
| 45 | Rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma | Colubridae | 19 | 0.1% |
| 46 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | Colubridae | 14 | 0.1% |
| 47 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | Colubridae | 14 | 0.1% |
| 48 | Gray rat snake Pantherophis spiloides | Colubridae | 13 | 0.1% |
| 49 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | Colubridae | 4 | 0.0% |
Also recorded in Florida, fewer than 10 times
Beyond the main list, five snake species are known from Florida by only 3 to 9 records each. Some are genuine rarities at the edge of their range; others may be strays, released pets or old misidentifications, so treat them as unconfirmed.
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.