Black Snake with Red Belly in Florida: What is it and is it Poisonous?

Have you crossed paths with a small black snake, flashing a neon crimson abdomen? What species of snake is that this? Some persons are capable of instantly establish a snake. However, this can be a distinctive ability that requires not solely understanding about many several types of snakes and their look but in addition understanding the place they stay. After all, a black snake with a crimson stomach in Florida is probably not the identical species as an identical wanting snake in North Carolina.

While inspecting the snake you’ve discovered, you might also be questioning “is it poisonous?” (Nope! Though it’s a little bit of a trick query. “Poisonous” refers back to the toxicity of issues we ingest, whereas “venomous” refers to toxins an animal releases, like snake venom). Okay, then; is it venomous? We’ll reply these and different fascinating questions under! Whether you’re trying to brush up in your snake identification expertise, otherwise you’ve come throughout a darkish snake sporting a vivid orange-red underside, maintain studying!

What Florida Snake is Black with a Red Belly?

There are round 44 species of snake native to Florida. From the Everglades to the city areas, there’s no scarcity of distinctive ecosystems for these snakes to stay in and thrive in.

However, there are solely two species of black snakes with crimson bellies in Florida: the red-bellied snake and the black swamp snake. 

About the Red-Bellied Snake

Known by the scientific identify Storeria occipitomaculata, the red-bellied snake might be the obvious snake present in Florida becoming the above-mentioned description, because of its widespread identify. There are three completely different subspecies of the red-bellied snake:

• Florida redbelly snake (S. o. obscura)
• Northern redbelly snake (S. o. occipitomaculata)
• Black Hills redbelly snake (S. o. pahasapae).

Appearance

The red-bellied snake is a small species of snake. They develop to be wherever from 4 to 10 inches lengthy. They have a black dorsal aspect and a vivid crimson stomach. However, their bellies might seem extra orange than crimson. 

Habitat

Found solely in North America, the red-bellied snake prefers to stay in hotter climates, like these of Florida. They don’t sometimes journey far north, but when they do, they’re selection of housing is sort of fascinating. Because they wrestle to burrow, they inhabit deserted ant mounds, which offer them a protected, heat shelter.

When you come throughout them in Florida, nonetheless, it’s extra widespread to seek out them in woodland areas below logs and leaves. They’re shy and secretive, preferring to keep away from folks.

Diet

Because of their small dimension, red-bellied snakes hunt tiny critters, together with snails, salamanders, earthworms, capsule bugs, and slugs. 

Is the Red-Bellied Snake Venomous? 

Thankfully, the red-bellied snake isn’t venomous, and also you don’t want to fret should you or your pet cross paths with this snake.

However, whereas the red-bellied snake isn’t venomous, it may nonetheless chunk! This might be painful, and a chunk from any animal can introduce harmful micro organism. As a end result, be sure to at all times watch out and thoughts your area should you spot this snake. Because they wish to keep away from folks, they’ll most probably transfer away shortly. 

About the Black Swamp Snake

The red-bellied snake isn’t the one black snake with a crimson stomach in Florida. A snake becoming this description may additionally be the black swamp snake, also referred to as the red-bellied mud snake or the swamp snake. There are three subspecies of Liodytes pygaea:

• South Florida swamp snake, (L. p. cyclas)
• Carolina swamp snake (L. p. paludis)
• North Florida swamp snake (L. p. pygaea)

Appearance

Although the black swamp snake is bigger than the red-bellied snake, it’s nonetheless a comparatively small snake. On common, it solely grows to be between 10 and 15 inches lengthy. However, the most important on report grew to be almost 2 toes lengthy at 22 inches! They have a black dorsal aspect and a vivid crimson or orange stomach, identical to the red-bellied snake. 

Habitat

The black swamp snake can solely be discovered within the southeastern United States. This is as a result of they like to stay in swampy areas with numerous crops that aren’t widespread in the remainder of the nation. The states that yow will discover them in embody North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

Although each species are secretive, you’re a lot much less prone to come throughout a black swamp snake than a red-bellied snake. This is as a result of the swamp snake is almost completely aquatic and spends its time hiding within the thick vegetation of the swamps.

Diet

The black swamp snake eats a wide range of aquatic and semiaquatic animals, together with leeches, tadpoles, and small fish. 

Is the Black Swamp Snake Venomous? 

Thankfully, just like the red-bellied snake, the black swamp snake is nonvenomous. Other than a possible to introduce micro organism and normal ache, their chunk is totally innocent to people. 

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