Overview
General Information

The Atlantic salt marsh snake is a slender, heavily keeled water snake about 2 feet in total length, with a pattern of stripes that are variously broken into blotches. The dorsal ground color is pale olive, patterned with a pair of dark brown stripes running down the back and enclosing a pale mid-dorsal stripe. These dark stripes usually become fragmented posteriorly into a series of elongate blotches. There is also a row of dark blotches along the lower sides of the body, which merge to form stripes in the neck region. The ventral surface is black with a median series of yellowish spots. This snake feeds on small fish in shallow water. It is most active at night, during periods of low tide.

Current Listing Status:
Date Listed:1977-12-29 00:00:00.0
Lead Region: Southeast Region (Region 4)

States/US Territories in which the Atlantic salt marsh snake is known to occur:  Florida

USFWS Refuges in which the Atlantic salt marsh snake is known to occur:  MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, PELICAN ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

For more information, please see: 

Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents

Date Citation Page Title

View All Federal Register Documents
04/26/2007 72 FR 20866 20868 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 22 Southeastern Species
11/29/1977 42 FR 60743 60745 Final Threatened Status Determination for Atlantic Salt Marsh Snakes; 42 FR 60743 60745 (Nerodia fasciatata taeniata)
06/02/1977 42 FR 28165 28166 Proposed Threatened Status for Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake; 42 FR 28165 28166 (Natrix fasciata taeniata)

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Recovery Summary

Current Recovery Plan(s)
Plan Date Title Plan Status
12/15/1993 Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake Final

Other Recovery Documents
Doc Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/26/2007 72 FR 20866 20868 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 22 Southeastern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    03/24/2008 Atlantic salt marsh snake 5-Year Review

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    Critical Habitat


    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Atlantic salt marsh snake.

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    Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP):

    No Habitat Conservation Plans exist for the Atlantic salt marsh snake.

    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA):

    No Safe Harbor Agreements exist for the Atlantic salt marsh snake.

    Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA):

    No Candidate Conservation Agreements exist for the Atlantic salt marsh snake.

    Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA):

    No Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances exist for the Atlantic salt marsh snake.

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    Petitions


    No petition findings have been published for the Atlantic salt marsh snake.


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    Life History

    Habitat Requirements
    The Atlantic salt marsh snake inhabits coastal salt marshes and mangrove swamps. Specifically, it occurs along shallow tidal creeks and pools, in a saline environment ranging from brackish to full strength. It is often associated with fiddler crab burrows.
    Food Habits
    Movement / Home Range
    Although historically reported from coastal areas of Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties, Florida, it now appears to be restricted to a limited coastal strip in Volusia County. Its population level is currently unknown.
    Reproductive Strategy
    Little is known about the life history of this snake, but it is probably similar to the Gulf salt marsh snake. Females of the Gulf Coast race produce from 2 to 14 live young, usually in mid-summer.
    Other


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    Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
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