Florida Officials Need Help Finding Secretive, Rare Rainbow Snake Last Spotted in the State Years Ago

[Desmond Milligan 0]

NEED TO KNOW

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking the public to report rainbow snake sightings in the state

• The species is secretive, aquatic, and often mistaken for dangerous reptiles, but it is harmless.

• Declines in the snake's population are tied to the loss of its preferred dietary needs (American eels), habitat loss, and fungal disease threats

A rare reptile is catching the attention of Florida wildlife officials.

On Monday, Aug. 19, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urged the public to report any sightings of the rainbow snake — an elusive, nonvenomous species whose numbers have dwindled in recent decades.

The semi-aquatic reptile, also known as Farancia erytrogramma, is striking in appearance, having iridescent black or violet-blue scales with three vivid red stripes down its back. The species' chin and lip scales are yellow and marked with violet spots. Adult rainbow snakes can usually grow between three and four feet long.

According to USA Today, the last documented sighting of the elusive snake was in February 2020

Pierson Hill and Kevin Enge/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Rainbow snake

According to the FWC, rainbow snakes depend heavily on American eels for food, and declines in that prey species — paired with habitat loss — have contributed to population reductions. Officials also note that rainbow snakes in some other states are being impacted by snake fungal disease, raising concerns about the species’ long-term survival.

“We need help from Floridians and visitors to better understand where rainbow snakes still occur in the state,” explained Kevin Enge, a research scientist with FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “Every sighting report gives us valuable data about their current distribution and helps us assess the health of the species in Florida.”

Rainbow snakes are considered secretive and highly aquatic, according to the University of Florida’s Florida Museum. They’re rarely seen, but can sometimes be spotted crossing roads between waterways on rainy nights, or moving slowly along the bottom of spring-fed rivers by swimmers and divers.

Though their appearance may look intimidating, the snakes are harmless to humans. Some people mistakenly believe the snake has a stinger at the tip of its tail, but the Florida Museum said that the pointed scale is not dangerous.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The reptiles like to dwell near rivers, springs, and brackish marshes. The South Florida subspecies has historically been documented in Fisheating Creek in Glades County — more than 150 miles south of the nearest known population in Lake County — but the snakes haven't been seen in the area since 1952.

FWC is now hoping fresh reports can help determine the species' current range in the state. Officials ask that sightings be submitted online, ideally with photographs to help confirm identifications.

Read the original article on People

View the full article