A longtime Floridian had an exhilarating encounter with an uncommon reptile just lately.
Outside fanatic Thomas Leebo Holloway noticed a rainbow snake on June 19 that was taking a dip alongside the shores of Black Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns River in Clay County, a few half hour south from Jacksonville.
Holloway posted video of the sweetness (Farancia erytrogrammona) on Fb, and Unseen Florida — a web page for nature lovers — re-posted it for its greater than 172,000 followers to get pleasure from. In his 41 years of dwelling within the Sunshine State, he mentioned within the caption that this was the primary considered one of its sort he’d ever seen.
That’s as a result of this species is tremendous uncommon.
Also referred to as an eel moccasin — resulting from a hankering for freshwater eels — the rainbow is a big, non-venomous snake that lives and nests close to creeks, lakes and marshes. These “secretive” critters are additionally identified for his or her capacity to camouflage, which is why seeing one probably gained’t occur in your lifetime, consultants say.
“Rainbow snakes are extremely aquatic, spending most of their life hidden amongst aquatic vegetation; seldom seen, even by herpetologists, resulting from their cryptic habits,” says an FWC submit concerning a sighting in February 2020 in Ocala, the primary since 1969.
In case you are lucky to get a glimpse, you’re in for an eyeful.
“Adults are massive, thick bodied, and fairly lovely,” reads an outline from the Florida Museum on the College of Florida in Gainesville. The museum goes on to clarify that these snakes are principally shiny bluish-black, with skinny, purple stripes operating down the again and sides, a yellow throat and a generally pink underbelly.
Holloway’s superior footage, taken together with his Google Pixel 7 Professional digicam, he mentioned, captured the native stunner because it wiggled alongside the shore.
Beneath Unseen Florida’s submit had been many shocked face emojis and impressed commenters:
“An absolute unicorn, go play the lottery.”
“You fortunate duck!!! It’s a dream. to see an indigo or a rainbow and, oh my gosh, look how lovely!!!”
“That’s so wild!”