NON-VENOMOUS

Other common names

Mississippi Green Water Snake

Basic description

Most adult Mississippi Green Watersnakes are about 30-55 inches (76-140 cm) in total length. Adults are stout-bodied snakes with a dark greenish background color and several narrow darker markings alternating down the back and sides. These markings typically fade as the animal ages and may disappear completely. The head is large, with small scales between the eye and the upper lip scales. Juvenile coloration is similar to that described for adults, but the dark markings on the back and sides are much more vivid.

snake crawling in marsh grass
Mississippi Green Watersnake. Photo courtesy of ebirding/iNaturalist

Range

The presence of Mississippi Green Watersnakes in the state is represented by only a few records from coastal Escambia County in the far western Panhandle. These snakes have not been recorded from anywhere else in Florida.

Assessment of risk to people and pets

Non-venomous. Mississippi Green Watersnakes are not dangerous to people or pets, but they will readily bite to defend themselves. These snakes are not aggressive and avoid direct contact with people and pets. Virtually all bites occur when the snakes are intentionally molested.

Comparison with other species

Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti) Venomous If the head is viewed from above, the eyes of cottonmouths cannot be seen while the eyes of watersnakes are visible. Cottonmouths have vertically elliptical (cat-like) pupils, whereas watersnakes have round pupils. Cottonmouths have a facial pit between the nostril and the eye, whereas watersnakes do not.

Side by side comparison of Florida Cottonmouth and Mississippi green watersnake
Florida Cottonmouth. Photo courtesy of Luke Smith.
Mississippi Green Watersnake. Photo courtesy of Eric B.

Southern Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata) Non-venomous Southern Watersnakes have broad black, brown, or red crossbands (often bordered with black) down the back and a dark stripe that extends from the eye to the angle of the jaw.

two images side by side - Image 1: Southern Watersnake coiled snake with raised head. Image 2: Mississippi Green Watersnake - snake crawling in marsh grass
Southern Watersnake performing defensive head flattening. Photo courtesy of Luke Smith.
Mississippi Green Watersnake. Photo courtesy of Eric B.

Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana) Non-venomous Florida Green Watersnakes are dark green with small dark speckling and have small scales between the eye and the scales on the upper lip. They are only found east of Okaloosa County in the Panhandle.

two images side by side - Image 1: Florida Green Watersnake dull green snake in marsh grass. Image 2: Mississippi Green Watersnake - snake crawling in marsh grass
Florida Green Watersnake. Photo courtesy of johnjinjohny/iNaturalist
Mississippi Green Watersnake. Photo courtesy of Eric B.

Brown Watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota) Non-venomous Brown Watersnakes have squarish dorsal blotches along the entire body.

two images side by side - Image 1: brown watersnake - coiled brown snake with dark brown markings Image 2: Mississippi Green Watersnake - snake crawling in marsh grass
Adult Brown Watersnake. Photo courtesy of Todd Pierson
Mississippi Green Watersnake. Photo courtesy of Eric B.

Share your observations

You can help scientists better understand the biology and distribution of this species by sharing your observations. Send photos or videos of interesting observations, along with associated information, by emailing the herpetology staff at the Florida Museum for documentation in the Museum’s Herpetology Master Database. You can also post your observations on iNaturalist.

Additional helpful information

Do you have snakes around your house? Learn how to safely co-exist with snakes.

Still have questions about snakes or identifications? Feel free to email the herpetology staff at the Florida Museum with your questions or feedback on this profile.

Banner photo courtesy ebirding/iNaturalist/CC-BY-NC-4.0 Please credit any photographers on the page and see our copyright policy.