Eight species of the Alabama blacksnake can be found within the state.Many harmless black snakes are killed each year out of misidentification as cottonmouths, a venomous, semi-aquatic black snake.Unique coloration patterns help discern one black snake from another.
Whether you run into one of these snakes in the woods or are brushing up on your local snakes, it’s good to know a bit about black snakes. While black snakes may all look the same at first glance, they actually have unique details to set them apart from each other. These snakes also vary in their habitats but do overlap some. One of the main reasons that people want to differentiate between black snakes is because they’re trying to avoid venomous species, such as the cottonmouth. The cottonmouth is highly venomous and poses a threat to humans and pets. As a result, other snakes on our list are mistakenly killed out of fear every year. We will look at some facts about eight Alabama blacksnakes, so you’ll be prepared for what you might encounter in Alabama.
1. Eastern Indigo Snake in Alabama
This is a nonvenomous snake that can reach up to seven feet long. The eastern indigo snake is mostly black, but it has a cream chin. Sometimes, it can appear blueish in the right light. It’s not a snake that moves fast. This snake used to be in Alabama, but human development shortened its range to Georgia and Florida. The eastern indigo snake prefers sandhill and longleaf pine habitats. Efforts are being made to restore this habitat in Alabama so reintroduced snakes can re-inhabit the area. In Alabama, these snakes rely on the gopher tortoise for food and to use their burrows as shelters. The range of this tortoise has also been affected, which may have had an impact on the indigo snake’s range.
2. Black Racer in Alabama
Often mistaken for the eastern indigo above, the black racer is another type of Alabama blacksnake. It’s nonvenomous, though it’ll put on a display like it is venomous when threatened. Black racers grow up to six feet long, but they’re usually between three and five feet long. These snakes are slender for their size. They’ll first try to escape before things escalate into a confrontation, but they are aggressive if cornered. Their upper body is black, while their belly can be black or gray. They have smooth scales and brown eyes. Sometimes they have a white spot on their chin. The juveniles have blotches and are a bit lighter in color than the adults.
3. Cottonmouth in Alabama
Cottonmouths come in other dark colors, but black is the most common. These snakes are known as water moccasins and are highly venomous. They’re called cottonmouths because they bare their almost cotton-white mouths when threatened. Other nonvenomous snakes are often mistaken for cottonmouths including some on our list. The black racer and the plain-bellied water snake are examples of these snakes.
4. Ringneck Snake in Alabama
Ringneck snakes are small, averaging in at around 18 inches long. Some ringnecks are more blue than black, but enough are black that they’re worth adding to this list. Their necklace ring around their neck makes them one of the coolest looking snakes in the world. These snakes have a little cream-colored or yellow band around their neck, and their belly is also light. They’re nonvenomous, and because they’re so docile, they’re often kept as pets. They’re known to curl up in their owner’s hand which is possible because they’re so small. When ringneck snakes bite, their back fangs don’t pierce the skin, so they’re harmless. They like to munch on earthworms, slugs, frogs, and lizards. They’ll also eat juvenile snakes.
5. Black Pine Snake in Alabama
West of Mobile Bay lives the endangered black pine snake, another Alabama blacksnake. Its range also extends into Mississippi and Louisiana. This snake likes dry sandy ground and prefers tree canopies that are closed. This is a threatened species, as the conversion of their territory into housing and farmland has been happening at a faster pace than reforestation. Black pine snakes like to eat birds and their eggs, pocket gophers, and other small mammals.
6. Black Kingsnake in Alabama
The kingsnake has some bits of yellow on it even though it is mostly black, helping distinguish it. Black kingsnakes have smooth scales, and they have almost a pixelated patterning on their belly, though they look black when they’re moving on the ground. Native to Alabama, these snakes are popular snakes to keep as pets because they’re easily tamed after being caught in the wild. Wild snakes will put up a fight that includes tail rattling, using musk, and biting. They grow up to five feet long, so their enclosure will need to be quite big if you’re planning on owning one. Black kingsnakes are constrictors that prey on the usual snake munchable, but they are also able to eat venomous snakes. That’s because they’re immune to pit viper venom.
7. North Florida Swamp Snake in Alabama
North Florida swamp snakes have a red belly, but a predominantly black belly that can be seen while they’re slithering around. Their scales may look keeled but they’re actually smooth. These snakes are aquatic and non-venomous. North Florida swamp snakes are usually about a foot and a half long. The northwestern part of their range is in Alabama, as they like the coastal plain. They live in swamps, ponds, ditches, lakes, and canals. Anywhere with water and plenty of vegetation works for them.
8. Plain-Bellied Water Snake in Alabama
This snake is sometimes divided into subspecies based on differentiation in coloration. It’s been shown, though, that there’s no genetic variance. The differences are just phenotypical which means it’s just the natural range of looks that occur. Some dogs are huge and black, some dogs are tiny and white. It’s the same for snakes. Plain-bellied water snakes grow up to four feet long and they’re nonvenomous. Salamanders, crayfish, frogs, toads, and fish are all on the plain-bellied water snake’s menu. A unique feature of this snake is that it retreats to land when it feels threatened instead of remaining or hiding in the water.
Summary
Out of the 8 species of Alabama blacksnakes, only the cottonmouth is venomous, meaning if you see these other snakes it is safe to leave them alone! Cottonmouths, however, account for less than 1% of the 8,000 snake bites in the U.S. each year. As long as you take precaution, it is easy to stay away from these dangerous serpents.
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