Snakes and spiders in Citrus County, Florida
Citrus County, home of Inverness, has 25 snake and 19 spider species on record, from 308 licensed snake and 105 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern coral snake, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the pygmy rattlesnake, the Florida cottonmouth and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Citrus County?
Yes. The eastern coral snake: 13 licensed records, 5% of all Florida records of it. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake: 7 licensed records, 2% of all Florida records of it. The pygmy rattlesnake: 6 licensed records, 1% of all Florida records of it. The Florida cottonmouth: 5 licensed records, 1% of all Florida records of it. The brown widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Citrus County?
In all, 25 snake species are on the Citrus County list. The most recorded are the salt marsh snake (39), the Florida green water snake (34) and the southern watersnake (20).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt marsh snake Nerodia clarkii | 39 | 13% |
| 2 | Florida green water snake Nerodia floridana | 34 | 8% |
| 3 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 20 | 1% |
| 4 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 18 | 1% |
| 5 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 15 | 8% |
| 6 | Eastern coral snake venomous Micrurus fulvius | 13 | 5% |
| 7 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 13 | 2% |
| 8 | Black swamp snake Liodytes pygaea | 11 | 3% |
| 9 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 11 | 2% |
| 10 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 10 | 3% |
| 11 | Southern hognose snake Heterodon simus | 10 | 31% |
| 12 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 9 | 1% |
| 13 | Florida brown snake Storeria victa | 9 | 7% |
| 14 | Striped crayfish snake Liodytes alleni | 8 | 2% |
| 15 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus adamanteus | 7 | 2% |
| 16 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | 7 | 3% |
| 17 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | 6 | 1% |
| 18 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 6 | 3% |
| 19 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 5 | 4% |
| 20 | Florida cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon conanti | 5 | 1% |
| 21 | Florida crowned snake Tantilla relicta | 5 | 3% |
| 22 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 5 | 3% |
| 23 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 4 | 1% |
| 24 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 3 | 2% |
| 25 | Brahminy blindsnake introduced Indotyphlops braminus | 1 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Citrus County?
Observation records of snakes in Citrus County run through most of the year, peaking in May with 18% of them; across Florida the peak is March.
What spiders are in Citrus County?
In all, 19 spider species are on the Citrus County list. The most recorded are the spiny-backed orbweaver (10), the green lynx spider (7) and the black-and-yellow argiope (6).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 10 | 1% |
| 2 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 7 | 1% |
| 3 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 6 | 2% |
| 4 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 5 | 1% |
| 5 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 5 | 6% |
| 6 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 5 | 1% |
| 7 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 5 | 1% |
| 8 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 4 | 6% |
| 9 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 4 | 4% |
| 10 | Tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla | 4 | 1% |
| 11 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 4 | 2% |
| 12 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | 3 | 5% |
| 13 | Regal jumper Phidippus regius | 2 | 1% |
| 14 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 1 | 1% |
| 15 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 1 | 1% |
| 16 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 1 | 2% |
| 17 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | — | — |
| 18 | Huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria | — | — |
| 19 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Citrus County?
Observation records of spiders in Citrus County run through most of the year, peaking in May with 22% of them; across Florida the peak is April.
What stands out in Citrus County
Species for which Citrus County holds a large share of all Florida records: the southern hognose snake, 31% (10 of 32).
Common in Florida, not on the Citrus County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Florida, these do not reach the county list: the Burmese python (8,141 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Florida, these do not reach the county list: the greater leucauge (514 statewide), the gray wall jumper (392 statewide) and the arabesque orbweaver (197 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Citrus County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Florida list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the corn snake and the eastern rat snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the Florida green water snake, the southern watersnake, the brown water snake and the mud snake. Coral snakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the scarlet snake. Recluse spiders are not on the Florida list, but GBIF holds 1 recluse spider record of any license in Florida (brown recluse 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Citrus County among Florida counties
By licensed snake records Citrus County ranks 13th of 67 Florida counties with any.
Other Florida counties with their own page: Miami-Dade County, Collier County, Alachua County, Monroe County, Broward County, Lee County, Orange County and Marion County.
The whole state: venomous species in Florida, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.