Three light spots on the back of neck, which join together forming a band. There is a white spot under the eye on the scales of the upper lip. The belly normally is red, but may also be orange, yellow, or bluish-gray. The scales are keeled , and there are 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round.
Juveniles are grayish with a light band across back of neck.
In Florida, it is found from the northern peninsula to southern Georgia. Uncommon, found near hardwood hammocks, pinelands, bogs, marshes, ponds, swamps, and sloughs. The Florida redbelly snake is a terrestrial burrower, and prefers moist environments where it is found under dense vegetation, logs, rocks, and other debris. It feeds on small slugs, snails, and earthworms. It is live-bearing.