ATLANTIC SALT MARSH SNAKE 

 Nerodia fasciata taeniata Cope 



KINGDOM Animalia 



CLASS ReptUia 



ORDER Squamata 



FAMILY Colubridae 



OTHER COMMON 



NAMES salt water snake 



eastern Florida water snake 

 east coast striped water snake 



DATE 



Entered into SWIS to be determined 



Updates 3 January 1978, 11 October 1978, 



21 May 1979 



LEGAL STATUS 

 Federal: Threatened 



States: 



(42 FR 

 29 November 1977) 



Endangered: Florida 



60743-60745, 



REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS 



This species has a Umited geographical range 

 and is restricted to habitat that is subject to pro- 

 gressive disturbances. Development on coastal 

 barrier islands threatens the snake's remaining 

 habitat. Draining and diking operations promote 

 hybridization and genetic swamping by an adja- 

 cent freshwater race, the Florida water snake 

 Nerodia fasciata pictiventris (Kochman and 

 Christman 1979a; 42 FR 60743-60745; 29 

 November 1977). 



PRIORITY INDEX 



Not assigned. 



DESCRIPTION 



The Atlantic salt marsh snake is a small water 

 snake approximately 70cm long. Its dorsal pat- 

 tern is variable, combining elements of blotching 

 and longitudinal striping. It has a median pair of 

 dark brown stripes on pale olive ground color, 

 often fragmented posteriorly into longitudinal 



