Snake Identification Help

[brandonh]

green water snake maybe , lets not rule out that it may not be from around there anything is possible

[Shmoges]

Looks like a coach whip to me.

[brandonh]

im sorry i didnt even see the hybrid links you posted that is also a possibility

[StudentoReptile]

I'd rule out the coachwhip (too thick-bodied) and the brown snake (way too big).

[brandonh]

can most likely rule out rainbow snake also

[gibbons530]

Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus)
Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)
Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)
Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)
Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi)
Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)
Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
Mud Snake (Farancia abacura)
Rainbow Snake (Farancia erytrogramma)
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus)
Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster)
Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)
Milk Snake/Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)
Red-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata)
Green Water Snake (Nerodia floridana)
Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)
Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota)
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)
Striped Crayfish Snake (Regina alleni)
Glossy Crayfish Snake (Regina rigida)
Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata)
Pine Woods Snake (Rhadinaea flavilata)
Black Swamp Snake (Seminatrix pygaea)
Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)
Florida Brown Snake (Storeria victa)
Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata)
Central Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta)
Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula)
Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae)
Northern Banded Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon X fasciata)

I feel like I might have found a rare snake or something. If it is a hybrid, are hybrids rare to find in the wild?

Also, I highly doubt that this was someone's pet. I was at a pretty secluded area, there weren't any houses for several miles. We had to hike a few miles and conoe a few more miles just to get to this place. Anything is possible though I guess.

[StudentoReptile]

My vote is either a Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata) or Northern Banded hybrid (Nerodia sipedon X fasciata).

The head just looks too much like Nerodia to be anything else IMHO. Also, the pattern on the belly points to Nerodia. Queens and crawfish snakes have striped belly patterns, according the field guides I was looking at the other night.

Banded waters can be quite variable in appearance, and many adults fade out as they mature, seeming at first glance to be uniform color instead of their characteristic brown/burgundy banding.

Here is a banded I found last year. Note the dull appearance, as well as the red/cream belly markings creeping up the sides of the body...much like the snake you posted.

[brandonh]

i would second that if you take the pic above and this pic of a northern watcher snake and put them together should give you a idea on what the hybrid may look like. i think its probably a hybrid or a banded

[gibbons530]

Thanks to you guys I think I have a banded water snake. That pic of the banded water snake looks nearly identical to the one that I found. I appreciate all of you guys' help! These are nice forums... I might stick around for awhile.