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Florida Snakes

February 17, 2009

The ecosystems of Florida include a huge variety of reptile species from alligators and turtles to snakes and lizards. Florida snakes are surely many: there are actually forty four species with highly varied habitats, Florida snakes make their abode in salt and fresh water wetlands, coastal mangroves and dry lands but they are equally present in residential areas. Only six Florida snakes are poisonous, and they are coexisting with the non-venomous varieties, venturing in urban settings too. The best way to stay out of trouble is to care enough to learn about their morphology and thus become able to distinguish among these Florida snakes. Avoid snakes and they will avoid you!

Florida snakes

The coral snake and pit vipers are the most dangerous Florida snakes, they can be identified by certain features that make them stand apart. Pit vipers include the rattlesnake, the cottonmouth and the copperhead, they all have vertical eye pupils, facial pits between the nostrils and the eyes as well as on the lateral of the V-shaped head. These Florida snakes are haemotoxic as their venom attacks the red blood cells, and causes unstoppable hemorrhage by the destruction of the blood vessel walls. Coral snakes on the other hand are neurotoxic, with the toxins in the venom acting on the body nerves and inducing paralysis.

Rattlesnakes are the Florida snakes responsible for the majority of snakebites reported in the United States in a year. As their venom is very rapidly spreading in the body system, without immediate antivenin administration, the victim will faces death within less than half an hour. A major difference in the group of Florida snakes comes from copperheads, the venom of which will hardly require antidotes. These gentler Florida snakes have less potent toxins and thus do not cause the same amount of harm as the rest of the pit vipers.

Florida snakes

Even if poisonous snakes raise the biggest concern by the threat they pose, the most widespread of Florida snakes is the black racer, a non-venomous variety that uses only its very sharp fangs to put down its prey. Although the main tendency of home owners is to remove snakes from their properties, specialists insist on the fact that in the absence of snakes, rodents would breed out of control causing other forms of damage. Snakes should be left alone, particularly if we are talking about the non-venomous species, as you will hardly ever see them around the house.

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