Salt Marsh Snake
Nerodia clarkii
A slender water snake specialized for life in coastal salt marshes and mangrove habitats.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.4-0.75 m (1.3-2.5 ft)
- Range
- Coastal salt marshes of the Gulf Coast and Florida
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Overview
The salt marsh snake is a coastal specialist among North American water snakes, tolerating brackish and saline conditions rarely used by its freshwater relatives.
It occurs in scattered coastal populations from Texas along the Gulf Coast to Florida, often striped longitudinally rather than blotched like typical water snakes.
How to identify it
- Background color gray, tan, or olive-brown
- Typically shows four longitudinal stripes rather than crossbands or blotches
- Some individuals nearly patternless or with faint striping
- Keeled scales
- Slender body compared to other Nerodia species
- Distinguished by coastal saltwater habitat and longitudinal striping pattern
Habitat & range
Restricted to coastal salt marshes, mangrove swamps, and brackish tidal creeks along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, tolerating higher salinity than most water snakes.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Active hunting small fish and crustaceans in brackish and saline waters, an unusual adaptation among North American water snakes. Diurnal and secretive, often hiding in marsh vegetation. Bears live young.
Frequently asked questions
Is the salt marsh snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous.
Why is it unusual among water snakes?
It tolerates brackish and saline water conditions that most freshwater-dependent water snakes cannot.
Where is it found?
It occurs in coastal salt marshes and mangroves along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida.
What does it eat?
It feeds on small fish and crustaceans found in brackish tidal habitats.
Salt Marsh Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Salt Marsh Snake.
