What kind of florida snake is this? found in southeastern florida(52 inches long)??

Question

we think it might be a cottonmouth because it is dark almost blackish with a light underbelly and a narrow tail. but, its head was bigger than its neck but not very much...and its eyes didn't seem to be like cat eyes but more round.

Answer 1

It is probably a harmless water snake, which are often mistaken for cottonmouths (aka water moccasins). Florida water snakes can look very similar to cottonmouths.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-...

Answer 2

I can think of three snakes it could be other than a cottonmouth without even thinking about it. Here's a site to check. Hope you didn't pick it up without a positive I.D. though...

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-...

(note: this is not the same flmnh.ufl.edu... as the previous link... although I have no idea why that answerer didn't just link you to this page... after all, you are the one who saw the snake)

Yep. I didn't give any of my guesses because without a pic I'm not going to guess what kind of snake it is. It's best for the person who saw it to give a description and see a pic and say "Yeah, that's my snake." Sorry if 3 people don't like it. (Black phase southern hognose {big for a hog, yes, but I've gone to get snakes for people that were much smaller than their estimated size}, black racer, or an old dark banded water snake. As we all know who have handled wild snakes, many of them will flatten their heads somewhat to look more dangerous...) Boo-hoo, I got thumbs downed....

Answer 3

it is probably a water snake they have big heads and are often  confused for cottonmouths you should just leave it alone and find it online.

Answer 4

ITS A DEFINITE COTTONMOUTH

Answer 5

All cotton mouths I've ever seen have a pumpkin orange belly. They are aggressive during spring and will open their mouths and make a hissing/growling sound. If the inside of the mouth is cotton white then you know it's a cotton mouth. They are normally about the length you mentioned with a fat body. Their upper skin can be different shades from a lime green to brown to black. Younger ones tend to have a pattern on their backs They are pit vipers and poisonous.

Answer 6

Is the head oval or triangular?

Oval and round eyes--non poisonous.

Tri angle and elliptical pupils in eyes--- poisonous

Is inside of mouth white like cotton?

yes- cotton mouth

Does it have two fangs?

Answer 7

COTTON MOUTH- CALL THE NEAREST REPTILE MILKING CENTER TO GET RID OF IT. IT IS POISONOUS, SO THEY MIGHT MILK IT FOR PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO THE POISON.