The Rainbow Snake is a stunning species of colubrid snake that is native to the South-Eastern United States.
This large species of snake is highly aquatic and is always found in or around water. They are sometimes referred to as the eel moccasin.
While this snake looks like it might be poisonous due to its vibrant coloration, it is actually a harmless non-venomous species.
Rainbow Snake Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Rainbow Snake belongs to the Colubridae or Colubrid family of snakes. This is the largest family of Snakes in the world consisting of many popular species such as Pine Snakes and Milk Snakes.
With around 250 different genera of Colubrids, these snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica which also makes them the most widely distributed family of snake in the world.
The vast majority of Colubrid snakes are non-venomous, or at least contain a venom that isn’t considered to be medically significant to humans.
However, there are a number of species of Colubrid snakes that contain venom capable of killing humans. This includes species from the Boiga and Rhabdophis genera as well as other snakes such as the Boomslang.
Genus
The genus that the Rainbow Snake belongs to is called Farancia. There are currently only two species in this genus, the Mud Snake and the Rainbow Snake.
Both of the species in this genus are native to the South-Eastern United States.
Species
The scientific name for the Rainbow Snake is Farancia erytrogramma and there are currently two recognised sub-species.
This species was first described in 1803 by a French Zoologist named Palisot de Beauvois.
The nominate sub-species or simply the Rainbow Snake has the scientific name Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma while the South Florida Rainbow Snake has the scientific name Farancia erytrogramma seminola.
However, the South Florida Rainbow Snake was officially declared extinct in 2011.
Rainbow Snake Description
The Rainbow Snake is a large species of colubrid snake that is heavy bodied. Females are larger than males and can reach 5-6 feet in length while males typically only grow to around 3-4 feet in length.
They are a beautiful, multi-colored species with iridescent scales which is where they get their common name, the Rainbow Snake. The primary colors seen on this snake are red, black and yellow.
They have three red stripes running along the length of their backs. The thickness of these stripes can vary amongst individuals.
Yellow coloration flares up from the snake’s belly and can be visible along the sides of the snake while the background color is typically black.
A Juvenile Rainbow Snake is very similar in appearance to an adult. However, they tend to lack the yellow coloration which develops as they grow.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Rainbow Snake is native to the South-Eastern United States where it is always found in or around a source of water.
This species can be found as far South as the Northern half of Florida where they can be found as far down as Orlando.
Their range extends up along the Atlantic Coast through States such as Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
This species shares some of its geographical range with many well known species including the Florida Softshell Turtle, the Brown Water Snake, the Green Anole, the Coachwhip Snake, the Yellow Bellied Slider and the Peninsula Cooter.
These snakes are very aquatic and are often found in water. When on land, they rarely venture too far from their water source.
They can be found in swamps, marshes, rivers and lakes. When on land, they like to burrow in sandy soil or hide under decaying logs.
Rainbow Snake Behaviour
The Rainbow Snake is a nocturnal species, meaning they are mostly active at night and sleep during the day.
They are a highly aquatic species that will spend much of its time in the water. When they do venture onto land, they never stray too far from a water source.
There behaviour on land is highly fossorial, meaning they will spend most of their time burrowing in soil. They can also be hiding under things like decaying logs.
They tend to catch most of their prey in the water but will actually take it out of the water to eat it.
They have a spiny tip on their tail that they use to manoeuvre prey as they get ready to eat it. They can also use this to ‘stab’ a person that attempts to pick them up. However, this spine isn’t sharp enough to puncture the skin or cause any damage.