Florida Cottonmouth vs Plain-bellied Watersnake

Broad, blocky triangular head, much wider than the neck, with a heavy brow. Bold dark cheek stripe with pale edges, and often two dark vertical lines on the tip of the snout.

Fairly large eyes, easy to see from above; lips often yellowish or orange like the belly.

Dark, jagged crossbands on olive, brown or black; young snakes are reddish-brown and brightly banded.

Adults mostly plain above; young have dark crossbands near the head that turn into blotches down the body.

Vertical slit pupil, hidden by a dark stripe; the overhanging brow means you can't see the eyes from directly above.

Round pupils; eyes clearly visible when you look down on the head.

Dark in adults; babies have a bright sulfur-yellow tail tip.

Plain tapering tail with no rattle; the underside is unmarked like the belly.

Not aggressive, but often stands its ground, gaping its white mouth, vibrating its tail and releasing a strong musk.

Flees if it can; bites hard and releases musk if cornered or grabbed.

All of Florida including the upper Keys, north into southern Georgia and west into southeastern Alabama.

Southeastern and central US from Delaware and southeastern Virginia south to the Florida Panhandle, west through the Mississippi Valley to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and the Pecos River in New Mexico; small scattered northern populations in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and southern Michigan. Also northern Mexico.