Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is the home of many reptiles.

There are six venomous snakes found in Florida and they are all on display in the reptile exhibit. Five of the six venomous snakes are known as pit vipers and all use the same anti-venom for bites. The exception is the Coral snake which has a different type of venom and in turn requires a different anti-venom. The venom of the pit viper is known as a hemotoxin, it attacks skin and muscle tissue and can cause extensive tissue damage. The venom of the Coral snake is known as a neurotoxin which attacks the central nervous system. The following is a list of the six "hot" snakes of Florida including a brief description of each.

The Copperhead
Scientific Name: Agkistrodon contortrix

The Copperhead is a moderately sized snake with copper colored blotches on a tannish background. It is found throughout hilly areas across the Eastern U.S. They are only found in the extreme northern counties of Florida along the Georgia border. Their bites are extremely painful however, there are no documented deaths from a Copperhead bite in Florida. Copperheads will often den with Timber Rattlesnakes. They prey on rodents, lizards and insects ... especially cicadas. They are inoffensive snakes and are often trod upon.

The Cottonmouth
Scientific Name: Agkistrodon piscivorous

The Cottonmouth is a large semi-aquatic pit viper, it is the only one native to the Southeastern United States. The brownish juveniles look superficially like copperheads but lose the pattern as they mature. This snake has a reputation for being aggressive which is only partly true. The Cottonmouth will flee when disturbed unless it is defending its territory. Fish make up most of its diet. Cottonmouth bites are fairly serious. When cornered or nervous individuals will open their mouths to expose the cotton-white interior ... hence the name Cottonmouth.

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Scientific Name: Crotalus adamanteus

This is the largest rattlesnake in the U.S. and may attain lengths up to 96 inches. It makes its home in stumpholes, gopher burrows and other underground cavities. They prey mainly on birds, rabbits and squirrels. Diamondbacks are found in pine flatwood habitats along the coastal plain from North Carolina to Mississippi and all of Florida. The Diamondback Rattlesnake is thought to be the most dangerous snake in the U.S.

The Timber Rattlesnake
Scientific Name: Crotalus horridus

Also known as the "Canebrake" rattlesnake, the Timber Rattler is unique in that it is the only snake found throughout most of the northeastern United States. This snake has four recognizable color phases: black, yellow, southern and western. In the north the snakes hibernate while in the south this is not necessary. This is believed to be the reason why the Timber rattlers in the south reproduce more often and attain greater lengths. In the north it prefers rocky ledges and oak forests while in the south it prefers floodplains and swampy areas. This snake is endangered in many of the states it occurs in and is becoming more rare. Although these snakes are rarely aggressive they are a true symbol of the wild and should be left along.

The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Scientific Name: Sistrurus miliarius

This small snake is often grayish or tan but may also be a striking reddish color. They occur throughout the Southeastern U.S. rarely found far from water. Although these snakes are small their venom is fairly potent. There are no documented deaths however these snakes are easily annoyed and the rattle is not easily heard.

The Coral Snake
Scientific Name: Micrurus fulvius

Coral snakes are found from the southern U.S. to northern Argentina. They are characterized by the pattern of red, yellow and black and often confused with the non-venomous Scarlet Kingsnake. Their diet includes mainly anthropods, frogs, lizards, small nesting birds and small mammals. The coral snakes venom is extremely potent and 10% of untreated bites are fatal.

Since both the Coral snake and the Scarlet Kingsnake can be found in Florida one should know how to distinguish between the two. The color pattern on the Coral snake on the main part of the body is: yellow-red-yellow-black-yellow-red-yellow. You must note the color pattern on the main part of the body because the red is out of the sequence near the face and the tip of the tail. A good way to tell the difference is the Coral snake always has a black nose. The color pattern of the Scarlet Kingsnake is: red-black-yellow-black-red-black-yellow. The face is generally red. If you can't remember the pattern just remember that a traffic light goes from yellow to red when you should stop. Yellow and red are a very common warning sign in nature.

Gopher Tortoise
Scientific Name: Gopherus polyphemus

Every known species of the gopher turtle is considered threatened. These animals are very important to their ecosystem. They dig deep burrows which are used by other animals including the burrowing owl and various snakes. The southeastern species is found throughout Florida. Its carapace coloration is dark brown without lighter areas or markings of the marginal plates.

Below is a photograph of a Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park snake.

The small photograph below is for your selection of a larger photo. When you click on the photograph below, you will view a larger, more detailed photograph of picture you clicked on.