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Have you seen me? FWC asking for help documenting rare, shimmering snake
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking for the public's help in documenting a shimmering, yet elusive, reptile.
The rainbow snake is a large, nonvenomous aquatic snake that's found throughout the Panhandle. FWC said its population has declined in recent decades, but it's sometimes spotted in the St. Marys, St. Johns, and Suwannee river drainages.
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There used to be a subspecies population, the Southern Florida Rainbow Snake, that was found only in Fisheating Creek in Glades County, but it hasn't been documented in the area since 1952 and is possibly extinct.
As adults, the snakes can grow up to four feet long and are mostly a glossy black that turns iridescent blue in the sunlight. They have three thin red strips running down the length of their bodies, yellow or pink coloring that fades into a red belly and a yellow chin and throat. Rainbow snakes also have a pointy scale on the tips of their tails, which is completely harmless.
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Rainbow snakes have a striking iridescent shimmer when they're in the sun, which makes them easily recognizable, but they're also nocturnal and usually stay close to water, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
They feed mostly on American eels, another species experiencing population decline. Decreasing prey, habitat loss and their secretive nature all make it difficult for scientists to study rainbow snakes and help protect remaining populations.
So, FWC is asking Florida residents and visitors to keep an eye out for this colorful but shy snake. If you spot the rainbow snake, snap a picture if you can, and report the sighting to FWC.
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