Reptiles

Banded Water Snake - "nerodia fasciata"

The three different species of Water Snakes found in Mead Garden grow from 8" when born to 48" when adult. Banded Water Snakes are typically gray, green-gray or brown in color, with dark crossbanding. Many specimens are so dark in color, their patterning is barely discernible.

They have flattened heads, with small eyes that have round pupils, and keeled scales.

Species like the Banded Water Snake display distinct banding, where other species, like the Brown Water Snake, have black squares or blotching on a brown background color. The Green Water Snakes are olive green, black, or some combination therein, with markings being brown or black.
 

Brown Water Snake - "nerodia taxispilota"

Their appearance leads them to frequently be mistaken for other snakes which share the same habitat, including the venomous Cottonmouth. However, there have never been sightings or captures of Cottonmouths in Mead Garden in over 40 years. All of the water snakes are much more common than the Cottonmouth, and unfortunately, human ignorance and fear often lead to them being killed.

Water snakes, as their name implies, are largely aquatic. They spend the vast majority of their time in, or very near permanent sources of water. Often they can be found basking on tree branches.
 

Green Water Snake - "nerodia floridana"

Their primary diet is fish and amphibians, and they are quite adept at catching both in their aquatic environment.

While their initial instinct is to flee when disturbed, they do typically have a nasty disposition, and do not often hesitate to strike or bite if handled, and will often expel a foul smelling musk from their cloaca.
 

Ringneck Snake - "diadophis punctatus"

Named for a yellow band around the neck, the Ringneck Snake is relatively easy to identify when encountered. It's back is either slate gray or black, giving it a satin-like appearance. A complete yellow ring just behind the head distinguishes it from other snakes. The belly is bright yellow or rarely orange, and may occasionally bear a few small black spots.

Ringneck Snakes prefer moist areas for their habitat. This is also the same habitat for an important prey item: earthworms. They also eat insects.

They are generally found under rocks, logs, boards, and debris during the day.
 

Garter Snake - "thamnophis sirtalus"

The pattern on these snakes consists of one or three longitudinal stripes on the back, typically red, yellow or white. The snake genus got it's common name because people described the stripes as resembling a garter. In between the stripes on the pattern are rows with blotchy spots.

Even within a single species, the color in the stripes and spots and background can differ. In some species, the stripes vary little in color, from the adjacent bands or background, and are not readily seen.

Most Garter Snakes are less than 24" long, but can be larger. The average size for an adult is between 28 and 36".

They eat fish, frongs toads, and even earthworms.
 

Corn or Red Rat Snake - "elaphe gutta"

Corn Snakes prefer habitats such as overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, and abandoned or seldom used buildings and farms. In Mead Garden they can be found just about anywhere.

They are constrictors, like the Boas and Pythons from other countries. All of the rat snakes are non-venomous. Corn Snakes eat all types of rodents, especially rats, mice and squirrels. They also will eat birds and their eggs.

These snakes are very helpful to the environment. They can grow up to 6' long.
 

Yellow Rat Snake - "elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata"

This rat snake, like all rat snakes is a constrictor, meaning it suffocates it's prey, coiling around small animals and tightening it's grip until they can longer draw breath, before eating them.

Though they do consume mice and rats, the Yellow Rat Snake also willingly eats squirrels, birds and bird eggs. In captivity, they have a reputation for being "vacuum cleaners", and will eat almost anything placed in front of them.

Adults can become quite large and are known to reach up to 8', being one of the largest snakes found in Florida. Yellow Rat Snakes are usually non-aggressive. They are non-venomous.
 

Ribbon Snake - "thamnophis s. sauritus"

The Ribbon Snake is found through out Florida and is a common relative of the Garter Snake, although Ribbon Snakes are much thinner (hence the name).

Ribbon Snakes eat the same variety of foods that Garter Snakes eat, and share the same habitat. It is one of the most adaptable and widespread native snakes in both the United States and Mead Garden.

3 Striped Mud Turtle - "kinosternon bauri"

Mud Turtles are small turtles, between 4 and 6" with a highly domed shell, that has a distinct keel down it's center. Females are generally larger than the males, but males have a much longer tail.

They can be black, brown, green or yellowish color. Some do not have shell markings, but some others have radiating black markings on the edge of their shells. Some species have distinctive yellow striping along the sides of their head and neck.

They are native to North and South America. They typically eat small fish, freshwater shrimp and crayfish.
 

Snapping Turtle - "condylura cristata"

Common Snappers are noted for their pugnacious dispositions when out of the water, their powerful beak-like jaws, and their highly mobile head and neck.

They have rugged, muscular builds, with ridged shells (though these ridges tend to be more pronounced with younger individuals). The carapace length in adults may be nearly 20" (though 8 to 14" is more common).

It weighs between 10 to 35lbs. Exceptional individuals may reach 75lbs.

Common Snappers have lived for up to 39 years in captivity, while the lifespan of wild individuals is estimated to only be around 30 years.
 

Peninsula Cooter - "pseudemys peninsularis"

The Peninsula Cooter is a fairly large turtle (up to 12") often seen basking on logs along the banks in Mead Garden.

The olive or brown carapace is slightly flared in the back. The underside of some marginals are marked by doughnut-shaped dark spots  with light centers. The plastron and bridge have dark markings, particularly along the seams between scutes. The head and neck have numerous yellow "hairpin" strips. The postorbital stripe is not as broad as with the Slider Turtle, with which it might be confused.

Males have straight, elongated front claws, This species is predominantly herbivorous, meaning that it eats vegetation like lily pads, water hyacinths, and ell grass.
 

Read Ear Slider - "trachemys scripta elegans"

It is a medium-sized turtle, up to 12" as an adult, and can be recognized by a red stripe down each side of the head, and the rather oval carapace.

These turtles are not native to Florida, but actually from the Mississippi River area. Many people turn these turles loose in the wild when they get tired of keeping them, so they have adapted to life here in Florida.

They eat small fish, frogs, toads, etc. when little and switch to herbivorous foods when adult.

Young turtles will have a bright shell color and markings. As these turtles age, shell color tends to darken and markings will fade, including the "red-ears".

Males have very long front claws and a longer tail than their female counterpart.
 

Softshell Turtle - "trionyx ferox"

The Florida Softshell Turtle typically has a dark brown to olive green, leathery carapace, with a white or cream colored underside. They have a long neck, an elongated head, with a long snorkel-like nose.

They are very strong swimmers. Juveniles have dark blotching, which fades as they age. They grow to a large size, from 6 to 25". The turtles eat fish and amphibians.

Softshell turtles generally have a bad attitude, and will bite.

Source: Michael McDaniel, Eagle Scout Project - BSA Troop 62 - 2007.