Mudsnake
Farancia abacura
Adult length ranges from 31 to 81 inches. Heavy-bodied, glossy black color on dorsal side. Underbelly has red or pink checkerboard pattern on a black background. Occasion…
How to identify
Adult length ranges from 31 to 81 inches. Heavy-bodied, glossy black color on dorsal side. Underbelly has red or pink checkerboard pattern on a black background. Occasionally have yellow coloration on the head &/or red markings on the sides of the body. Possesses a spine-like scale at tip of the tail.
Range
Southestern United States. Range extends west to Texas, east to the Atlantic Ocean, south through Florida, and north into southern Illinois & Indiana.
Habitat
Mostly aquatic. Found in the water on the edges of swamps, wetlands, ditches, marshes, and streams, terrestrial for nesting & hibernation.
Variations
Males: smaller overall size but longer & thicker tales as compared to females. Juveniles: Red patterning often extends to the dorsal side which may appear as a banded pattern across the body. Anerythristic: Lacking red pigment, frequently found in the southeastern portion of their range.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Abacura: Greek for abacus (abakos) tail (oura).
At a glance
Size
91.4 to 121.9 cm
Range
Southestern United States. Range extends west to Texas, east to the Atlantic Ocean, south through Florida, and north into sou…
Habitat
Mostly aquatic. Found in the water on the edges of swamps, wetlands, ditches, marshes, and streams, terrestrial for nesting…
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap