Please help identify this snake!

[Eudocia]

This snake was in my yard today, does anyone know what kind it is? Is it venomous? It was about 30 - 36 inches long and a thick body. His underside was very pale, almost white and when his openned his mouth it was white on the inside and like he had white lips. (sorry I am not very good at describing snakes)

I live in North Central Florida (outside of Gainesville). Since the flooding a couple of weeks ago our retention pond and ditches around the property are full and last year 2 of my dogs were bit by a Water Moccasin so I have been very cautious and concerned about snakes showing up.

[Sarge47]

Not sure, the photos look rather small, but remember that poisonous vipers usually have a triangular head shaped like an arrowhead.

[Eudocia]

This is a bigger picture of the head.

[Eudocia]

Here's another bigger picture.

[Sarge47]

This is a bigger picture of the head.

This is a Water Moccasin:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...QEwAQ&dur=4957

This is a Cottonmouth:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...QEwBA&dur=3088

This is a Copperhead:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...QEwAA&dur=2398

Does yours look like any of these?

[Eudocia]

I was thinking it was possibly a water moccasin but do not know. It wasn't aggresive towards me at the time. The head was def triangular

[brotherjohn]

yep looks like h20 footwear

[RandyRhoads]

I don't see a loreal pit in your pictures although they are small and not too high of quality. Everything about this snake from the markings, body/head shape, keeled scales, and scales over the eye (I forget the name of these scales...) look like Agkistrodon piscavorus minus the loreal pit....

Do you see a rather large hole on each side of its' head, under the nose and forward of the eyes?

[IamDan]

all evidence seems to to point to cottonmouth/water moccasin (they are the same species, different terms). markings and head all look right and simply because it was not aggressive isnt a ground for dismissal. had it been a copperhead, it would have more of a rusty/Tan(ish) coloring in the markings and copperheads are known to be quite a bit more aggressive that cottonmouths. but thats just my .02...

[pete lynch]

Looks like an Northern Water Snake. They look like a cottonmouth.

[IamDan]

Looks like an Northern Water Snake. They look like a cottonmouth.

he's in FL... the northerns are extremely common here in IL, rare as you go further south.

[Rick]

The brown water snake looks a lot like a cottonmouth and is non poisonous. Common in Florida.

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But it does look like a cottonmouth to me. Since you have retention ponds I would suggest learning the poisonous snakes in Florida. There are only 4 broad groups; rattlesnake, cottonmouth, copperhead and coral. Each has look alikes. If you learn the poisonous ones then you'll know the rest are not poisonous. While I don't want a poisonous snake in my yard they are all very beneficial and the increase in mice/rats in your area because of the flooding will be kept somewhat in check because of snakes. We'd be overrun with vermin if not for snakes.

[RangerXanatos]

when his openned his mouth it was white on the inside and like he had white lips

White as cotton I bet. It's the reason they're called cottonmouth.

When I came in to work this morning, we had a dead one in the drive. All coiled up, but dead. Don't know what happened to the little guy.

[finallyME]

from sarge's pictures, and the larger ones you provided. My guess is it is a water moc.

[Rick]

It's just like the one next to your left foot.

[Desert Rat!]

I'm thinking Cottonmouth.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Yup, a water mocassin/cottonmouth. About 85-90% sure.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Positive ID, It is a water moccasin.

[crashdive123]

M R snakes
M R not
O S M R! C M B D eyes?
L I B! M R snakes!

[Pocomoonskyeyes3]

Most definitely a Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin. Notice the dark stripe that crosses the eyes(Sometimes hard to see, but there nonetheless)? That is distinctive to the members of the Pit Viper family here in North America. No Doubt it is Agkistrodon piscivorous in my mind. Both of the members of this family (Copperheads[Agkistrodon contortrix] and Cottonmouths) have similar markings, just different in color. On some Cottonmouths it is hard to see because some are either black or almost black, but if you look close enough you might be able to discern them.


http://www.cottonmouthsnake.org/wp-c...-1-300x224.jpg

http://www.copperhead-snake.com/nmjk.jpg

http://www.networkingmedics.com/copperhead-snake.jpg