Nerodia clarkii
Silhouette: Beth Reinke · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Nerodia clarkii, commonly known as the salt marsh snake or the saltmarsh watersnake, is a species of semi-aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake found in the southeastern United States. Their range extends along the tidal salt marshes of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast from Texas to Florida, with an additional population in northern Cuba. The three subspecies of this snake are primarily distinguished by color pattern and geographic range.
Salt marsh snakes are the only U.S. snake species indigenous to saltwater habitats, being reported as common on coastal barrier islands without freshwater (Allen 1932). The specific name, clarkii, is in honor of American surveyor and naturalist John Henry Clark (1830–1885). Salt marsh snakes grow to a total length (including tail) of 15–30 inches (38–76 cm). They are also highly variable in both pattern and coloration. Found most commonly in coastal salt marshes, this snake inhabits brackish and saltwater habitats; it is also found hiding in crab burrows. Though salt marsh snakes are common in appropriate habitat, they have a tendency to be wary and secretive, so they... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Saltmarsh Snake sighting in Miami on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 57th most-seen of the 58 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Saltmarsh Snake in Miami on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Saltmarsh Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Only Miami, in our data
Miami is the only city on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Saltmarsh Snake sightings: under 5% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
Same genus: Nerodia
The closest relatives of the Saltmarsh Snake that you can see in Miami (genus Nerodia, Watersnakes) are Brown Watersnake (about 10%), Banded Water Snake (about 10%) and Florida Green Watersnake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Saltmarsh Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Miami (5 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
