With hundreds of articles on everything pertaining to lizards, turtles, and snakes, our experienced team provides reliable and accurate content you can trust. It has a stout body and a broad head. Two thinner stripes in the center of the belly, and two bolder stripes towards the outside of the ventral scales. There are 38 snake species in South Carolina, only six of which are venomous. The Mud Snake is a long, fairly heavy-bodied snake that is mostly glossy black in coloration with a red checkerboard pattern on the belly that extends up to the sides. Length: 14 22 in (38 56 cm) Web11. They have the darker blotched body compared to the Copperhead. All five are classified in the subfamily Crotalinae commonly called Pit Vipers. Adults average in size between 15-20 inches. They range in hue from tan to dark brown with darker brown hourglass shaped bands going down the length of the body. On the head, the Eastern Ribbon Snake has pale un-patterned lips and a white or yellowish spot just in front of the eyes. Southwestern Why Look Out for Baby Copperhead Snakes? Their large Triangular shaped copper-colored head gives them their common name. Discover alligator-eating snakes, spiders larger than your phone, and 1000 more incredible animals in our daily FREE email. The belly scales are pale with two rows of distinct black half moon patterns. South Carolina typically reports 150 to 300 snake envenomations per year. The dark edging to the smooth tan scales makes the snake resemble a braided whip which gives the snake its name. Blue Racers, for example are common around the Great Lakes region. These blotches are typically darker near the head, and fainter on the tail end. Common name:pygmy rattlesnake. If captured, they will bite, though some may hide their heads or go limp if captured. Most commonly, this snake is yellowish-brown to gray with black chevrons segmenting their way down the dorsal side of the body. The top of the head is a darker than the body and a key identifier of this snake is the dark strip on the face passing through the eye. The ventral surface of this snake usually has a pinkish hue that extends up the sides on 1 2 rows of dorsal scales and can be seen when viewing this snake from above. Eastern garter snakes grow up to 26 inches with three yellow stripes that run down their body. The red bands are almost always surrounded by the black bands and the front of the snakes head is red. Common name:eastern copperhead, copperhead. The young mud snake often lives in a seasonal wetland as a juvenile and moves to a permanent water source as it gets older. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! This medium-sized snake is highly aquatic and can grow up to 20 inches. They are tan to light brown in color and are patterned with a series of dark diamonds outlined in lighter scales going down the back of the snake. Occasionally a sensational story of one on the beach makes headlines. They possess large eyes and keeled scales. Use the photo gallery to identify snakes that are common to SC, NC and GA. VENOMOUS Copperhead ( VENOMOUS ) Credit: J.D. Now, having known those warnings, lets give time to checking out these cute snake pictures! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Reptile.Guide is the preferred educational source on reptiles favored by experienced herptologists and new owners alike. They can be observed in a range of habitats including swamps, floodplains, pine forests, mountains, and rural habitats. They can be observed throughout the Coastal Plain where they are found near lakes, rivers, swamps, and most commonly seen basking near the water source, soaking up the sun. The southern hognose is a small snake with a heavy body that can grow up to 24 inches in length. A small slender brown snake with keeled scales and a light brown to whitish belly. Northern 2. Search our database of over 13528 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Some have a gray to red body with a checkered pattern and light stripes. These snakes get darker as they age, which means the crossbands may not be as visible. Common name:Eastern racer. Featured Image Credit by Patrick K. Campbell, Shutterstock. Many of the subspecies have different color patterns from red to yellow to brown to dark to tan. This species can become aggressive, though they are usually reclusive if left alone. The rough earth snake is a slender brown to gray snake with a pointed snout that grows to around 10 inches. These snakes can be found in the mountains and Coastal Plain in South Carolina. Colubridae is the largest family of snakes in the world, and is also the largest family in South Carolina. They are common in the Coastal Plain where they prefer sandy habitats. Mud snakes are large non-venomous aquatic snakes that are very seldom observed, as they are so secretive. They are light to dark brown and have dark brown square patches that run down the center of the dorsum with two lines that run in alternating arrows down the side of the body. Fun Fact: Neither of South Carolinas Hognose Snake species are common in captivity, but their west-coast cousin is! Venomous The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America. in South Carolina Adults average between 14-22 inches (38-56cm). They have a yellow belly with four brown stripes, two down the center of the belly and one on either side. This is the largest species of Water Snake in North America and can reach 30 55 inches (76 140 cm) in length. In South Carolina, they live in heavily vegetated wetlands that tend to dry up periodically, which makes it home to an abundance of amphibians. Its not uncommon to encounter a corn snake in an old barn or deserted house, where they hunt for mice and rats. They are nocturnal, and unlike the other water snakes on our list, they will travel for long distances by land to find another body of water. Adults can reach lengths of up to five feet. They can be seen throughout South Carolina, except in mountainous areas of northwestern South Carolina. Adults are plain brown above with keeled scales and a contrasting reddish or yellowish belly coloration. This snake averages a size of 14 24 inches (36 61cm). However, they do all possess unique food capturing behaviors and reside in a plethora of habitats. SC Distribution: Coastal Zone, Coastal Plains, Sandhills. Often referred to as the Banded Water Snake, this snake is recognized by unbroken brown to reddish cross bands extending down the length of their dark brown body. They will freeze if encountered, trying to camouflage into their surroundings. They have alternating bands of yellow, black, and red where the red touches the black but does not touch the yellow bands. Reptile Guide is also a Chewy affiliate partner. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Probably Ticklish. They are completely harmless to humans. 12. Markings are triangular and bordered in black. The list of South Carolina snakes would not be complete without giving mention to these additional species. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Venomous). The red-bellied water snake, named for its red belly, is found mostly in the lakes and swamps of South Carolina, though they have been found in rivers. They have white to yellow chain-linked bands across the back, connecting on the sides, which is why some people refer to them as chain kingsnakes. Two subspecies of milk snakes, the Eastern and Scarlet inhabit South Carolina. WebWith 39 species, snakes can be found in all of South Carolinas habitats and landscapes. Willson unless otherwise noted Description: Description: Eastern kingsnakes are large -- 36 48 in (90-122 cm) -- shiny-black, smooth-scaled snakes with white or yellow chain-link bands that cross the back and connect along the sides. They have upturned snouts, which are pointed and are gray, tan, or red with dark brown patches down the center of the back and smaller patches on the sides. Their body is a collection of red, black, and yellow/whitish bands. However, they will still scare you, which youll want to keep an eye out for whether youre visiting the hiking trails, fishing in the swamps and rivers, or having a picnic on your back porch on a breezy spring evening. The belly of this snake is pale with square or triangular reddish blotches on the edges. WebOutside suburban areas, these juvenile snakes face common enemies such as foxes and raccoons. Oh You, Little Noodle. The Timber Rattlesnake, also known as a Canebrake Rattlesnake in some coastal potions of its range, is a large bodied pit viperwith an average adult size of 30-60 inches (76-152 cm). The length of this snake can reach up to 80 inches (207cm). Lets cover the rest of them here: Belly is black-and-white checkered, resembling Indian corn, Orange, dark brown, or gray body with squarish, reddish-brown dorsal blotches that are outlined in black, Spear-shaped blotch on top of the head, pointing toward the nose, and stripes extending from the back of the eyes past the corners of the jaw, Light brown or off-white belly with tiny black spots along each side, Yellowish, reddish, gray, or brown body with two rows of dark dorsal spots that sometimes merge, After death, color fades to blue or black, Bright green body with yellow or off-white belly, Gray, red, or even blue body with three yellow lengthwise stripes and with or without checkerboard lateral pattern. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Young are darker than the adults and have a light band on their neck, which fades as they age. The adult size of this snake is generally between 50 60 inches (127 152 cm), but can be up to 90 inches long (228 cm) They have a relatively small head with four prefrontal scales (scales on the top of the head in front of the eyes and behind internasal scales). They are gray in color with an orange or yellow band around their neck and underside. They can often be found around drying pools in the wetlands, where they feed on the trapped amphibians and fish. These and most other water snakes are said to make great pets. They are glossy black in color with a bright red belly. The typical adult size is between 18 26 inches (46 66 cm) and females are generally larger than males. They can be encountered in the mountainous areas of northwest South Carolina and throughout the Coastal Plain. You should always seek immediate medical attention if a snake envenomates you to avoid medical problems such as permanent nerve damage, limb amputation, and breathing problems. WebThe 4 types of kingsnakes found in South Carolina are the eastern kingsnake, mole kingsnake, scarlet kingsnake, and the eastern milk snake. This small snake is dark gray to black above and yellow to orange on the belly. Everyone enjoys a snake story even if they do not enjoy a snake encounter. They are tree-dwelling snakes and spend most of their time above the ground. They all belong to the Nerodia genus. These snakes grow to between 22 and 53 inches by the time they reach adulthood, making them one scary sight if youre out walking and run across one. They will suck in the air if confronted and spread the skin around their neck and head while hissing and pretending to strike. While they do avoid wet areas, they can sometimes be observed on the edge of swamps, where they are very accomplished swimmers. Eastern coral snake photo courtesy ReptileFact.com Yellow Rat Snake Growing six feet or more, these striped serpents are skilled climbers and will search your yard top to bottom for rodents. The belly is black or dark gray. Common name:Florida Green Watersnake, Eastern Green Watersnake. Venomous: No, Scientific name: Coluber constrictor Snakes While this species can be active all the time, youll see them out hunting most often at night. Venomous:Yes, Scientific name: Agkistrodon piscivorus Expert Tip: If you notice snake poop on your property, dont panic its free pest control! The smooth earth snake from the Coastal Plains is smaller than those from the mountainous areas. Of those bites, very few (if any) result in the victims death. Their favorite prey is catfish, so they love to live in the larger rivers of South Carolina, which give them plenty to hunt. Brown water snakes are some of the largest snakes in South Carolina, growing to between 30 and 60 inches as they mature into adulthood. They can be found mostly in the marshes of South Carolina. The species are carnivores, which means they like to snack on fish, frogs, and even other snakes at times. Banded water snakes are mid-sized snakes with heavy bodies, they are semi-aquatic and can grow up to 42 inches in length. Snakes They have keeled scales, a stout gray, tan or pinkish body, and irregular shaped dark blotches going down the back. The Eastern Hognose Snake can be incredibly variable in appearance across its range. This Timber rattlesnakes are usually more yellow or brown with some being black. They reach between 24 and 40 inches in length and are carnivores who feast on small animals and fish on and off the land. They have narrow heads and eyes are positioned further forward on the head than other snakes. The body is dark to light brown on top and white to pink on the bottom. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The scales are smooth and they have a hard, sharp spine at the end of their tail. Common name:scarlet kingsnake, scarlet milk snake. This is a small, un-patterned, brown snake with a narrow head, small black eyes, smooth shiny scales, and a pointed tail. Older adults are usually solid brown to almost black in appearance. Milksnakes are commonly found in barns, hiding under rocks and boards, while the scarlet kingsnake prefers to live underground. Snake diversity in South Carolina is fairly high and page space limits the number of species that can be presented. Females are generally larger than males. It can grow up to 84 inches and is black to blue in color, which includes the belly. Common name:banded water snake, black water adder, black water snake, brown water snake, common water snake, common northern water snake, eastern water snake, North American water snake, northern banded water snake, northern water snake, spotted water snake, streaked snake, water pilot.
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