Florida Snakes
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 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. Six Florida snakes require attention in particular due to their potent venom, and they are coexisting with the non-poisonous, 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 poisonous Florida snakes count corals and pit vipers, 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 elliptical eye pupils, a v-shaped head and some facial pits one between eyes and nostrils and the others on each side of the head. These Florida snakes are haemotoxic 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 spreads quickly in the body system, without immediate medical intervention, the victim will die within less than thirty minutes. A major difference in the group of Florida snakes comes from copperheads, which have a weaker venom that doesn’t always require the use of antidotes. Their toxins are the least potent and they are therefore considered the most gentle poisonous Florida snakes.
Even if poisonous snakes make the most important issue by the risk they pose, the most widespread of Florida snakes is the black racer, a non-venomous variety that uses only its 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 causing other forms of damage. Therefore, unless there are any alarm bells ringing about snakes nesting in large numbers in people’s gardens, there is no reason to interfere with the life of these creatures.
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