The ecosystems of Florida include a huge variety of reptile species from alligators and turtles to snakes and lizards. Florida snakes are classified in forty species living in incredibly 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. Six Florida snakes require attention in particular due to their potent venom, and they are coexisting with the non-venomous varieties, venturing in urban areas 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!
The coral snake and pit vipers are the most dangerous Florida snakes, they can be identified by a wide range of characteristics. Pit vipers include the rattlesnake, the cottonmouth and the copperhead, they all have elliptical eye pupils, facial pits between the nostrils and the eyes as well as on the lateral of the V-shaped head. These Florida snakes fall in the haemotoxic category as the toxin in the venom attacks the red blood cells, and causes unstoppable hemorrhage by the destruction of the blood vessel walls. The venom of coral snakes is neurotoxic, meaning that it affects the function of the nerves and induces 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 medical intervention, the victim will faces death within less than thirty minutes. A major difference in the family 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.
Even if poisonous snakes raise the biggest concern by the risk they pose, the most widespread of Florida snakes is the black racer, a non-venomous variety that relies on very sharp fangs to hunt its prey. Although the main tendency of home owners is to remove snakes from their properties, specialists stress out the fact that without them, rodents would breed out of control pestering us even more. 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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