Everglades Rat Snake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis rossalleni
An orange to reddish rat snake variant native to South Florida's Everglades, prized for its vivid coloration among rat snake forms.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 1.1-1.7 m (3.5-5.5 ft)
- Range
- South Florida, especially the Everglades region
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Overview
The Everglades rat snake is a distinctive, brightly colored form of the eastern rat snake found in the wetlands of South Florida. Its orange to reddish hue, sometimes with faint striping, sets it apart from other rat snake variants in the region.
It is well adapted to the marshy, subtropical habitats of the Everglades, where it hunts rodents and birds among sawgrass, hardwood hammocks, and canal banks.
How to identify it
- Orange to reddish-brown ground color, sometimes with faint darker striping
- Paler belly, often cream or yellowish
- White to cream chin and throat
- Loaf-shaped body; weakly keeled scales
- Round pupils
Habitat & range
Restricted largely to South Florida, including the Everglades, hammocks, canal banks, and adjacent agricultural areas.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and arboreal, feeding on rodents, birds, and eggs by constriction. Breeds in spring with eggs laid in moist, hidden sites during early summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Everglades rat snake venomous?
No, it is nonvenomous.
What makes it distinctive?
Its vivid orange to reddish coloration, rarer than typical gray or black rat snake forms, distinguishes it.
Where does it live?
It is restricted to South Florida, particularly the Everglades region.
Everglades Rat Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Everglades Rat Snake.
