The field guide
Search the collection, explore your state, or follow a familiar name. Watch from a distance and leave identification to an expert when safety is uncertain.
Lampropeltis meansi
Apalachicola Kingsnake (Lampropeltis meansi) is native to Florida. This nonvenomous constrictor with bold patterning is most often associated with woodland, grassland, farms, rocky slopes, and sheltered surface cover and typically feeds on snakes, lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Thamnophis atratus
Aquatic Gartersnake (Thamnophis atratus) is native to California and Oregon. This active natricine snake often associated with water or moist cover is most often associated with wet meadows, stream edges, marshes, woodland, and other moist cover and typically feeds on amphibians, fish, earthworms, slugs, and other small prey.
Crotalus cerberus
Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) is native to Arizona and New Mexico. This camouflaged pit viper with a keratin rattle is most often associated with woodland, grassland, desert, or rocky country and typically feeds on rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, or other available prey.
Lampropeltis pyromelana
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) is native to 4 U.S. jurisdictions, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. This nonvenomous constrictor with bold patterning is most often associated with woodland, grassland, farms, rocky slopes, and sheltered surface cover and typically feeds on snakes, lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Pantherophis bairdi
A strong climber with orange-yellow coloring and four dark neck stripes. It is most often associated with rocky canyons and typically feeds on rodents and birds.
Masticophis fuliginosus
Baja California Coachwhip (Masticophis fuliginosus) is native to California. This nonvenomous native snake is most often associated with prairie, woodland, scrub, fields, or rocky country and typically feeds on lizards, rodents, birds, frogs, eggs, or arthropods.
Bogertophis rosaliae
Baja California Ratsnake (Bogertophis rosaliae) is native to California. This nonvenomous constrictor and capable climber is most often associated with woodland edges, farms, fields, rocky slopes, and human structures and typically feeds on rodents, birds, and eggs.
Sonora cincta
Banded Sandsnake (Sonora cincta) is native to Arizona. This small ground-dwelling snake adapted to life beneath loose soil or surface cover is most often associated with loose desert soil, sandy flats, grassland, and cover beneath rocks or debris and typically feeds on spiders, centipedes, insects, lizards, and other small prey.
Seminatrix pygaea
Black Swampsnake (Seminatrix pygaea) is native to 5 U.S. jurisdictions, including Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. This active natricine snake often associated with water or moist cover is most often associated with streams, ponds, marshes, swamps, and vegetated wetland edges and typically feeds on fish, amphibians, crayfish, and other aquatic prey.
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Dark neck patches frame a bright dorsal stripe; it is strongly tied to water. It is most often associated with streams and rocky pools and typically feeds on fish, frogs and tadpoles.
Crotalus molossus
Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. This camouflaged pit viper with a keratin rattle is most often associated with woodland, grassland, desert, or rocky country and typically feeds on rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, or other available prey.
Nerodia harteri
Found only in Texas and closely tied to fast, rocky stretches of the Brazos. It is most often associated with rocky river channels and typically feeds on small fish.
Agkistrodon laticinctus
Broad reddish-brown bands cross a tan body; juveniles have yellow tail tips. It is most often associated with rocky woods and creek bottoms and typically feeds on rodents and amphibians.
Nerodia taxispilota
Brown Watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota) is native to 6 U.S. jurisdictions, including Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. This active natricine snake often associated with water or moist cover is most often associated with streams, ponds, marshes, swamps, and vegetated wetland edges and typically feeds on fish, amphibians, crayfish, and other aquatic prey.
Thamnophis butleri
Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) is native to 4 U.S. jurisdictions, including Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. This active natricine snake often associated with water or moist cover is most often associated with wet meadows, stream edges, marshes, woodland, and other moist cover and typically feeds on amphibians, fish, earthworms, slugs, and other small prey.
Tantilla planiceps
California Black-headed Snake (Tantilla planiceps) is native to California. This small ground-dwelling snake adapted to life beneath loose soil or surface cover is most often associated with loose desert soil, sandy flats, grassland, and cover beneath rocks or debris and typically feeds on spiders, centipedes, insects, lizards, and other small prey.
Lampropeltis californiae
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) is native to 7 U.S. jurisdictions, including Arizona, California, and Colorado. This nonvenomous constrictor with bold patterning is most often associated with woodland, grassland, farms, rocky slopes, and sheltered surface cover and typically feeds on snakes, lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Trimorphodon lyrophanes
California Lyresnake (Trimorphodon lyrophanes) is native to California. This slender, mostly nocturnal rear-fanged hunter is most often associated with rocky slopes, canyon walls, scrub, woodland, and sheltered crevices and typically feeds on lizards, frogs, small mammals, and other small vertebrates.
Lampropeltis zonata
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is native to California, Oregon, and Washington. This nonvenomous constrictor with bold patterning is most often associated with woodland, grassland, farms, rocky slopes, and sheltered surface cover and typically feeds on snakes, lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Drymarchon melanurus
One of America’s longest native snakes; powerful, nonvenomous, and protected. It is most often associated with thornscrub and ranchland and typically feeds on rodents, reptiles and snakes.
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Central Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) is native to 13 U.S. jurisdictions, including Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. This nonvenomous constrictor and capable climber is most often associated with woodland edges, farms, fields, rocky slopes, and human structures and typically feeds on rodents, birds, and eggs.
Thamnophis marcianus
A bold checkerboard pattern and pale back stripe make it recognizable. It is most often associated with wet grassland and canals and typically feeds on frogs, fish and worms.
Tantilla wilcoxi
Chihuahuan Black-headed Snake (Tantilla wilcoxi) is native to Arizona. This small ground-dwelling snake adapted to life beneath loose soil or surface cover is most often associated with loose desert soil, sandy flats, grassland, and cover beneath rocks or debris and typically feeds on spiders, centipedes, insects, lizards, and other small prey.
Gyalopion canum
The Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake has an upturned snout and dark bars across a pale body. Much of its life is spent beneath the soil in desert scrub and grassland. It commonly emerges around dusk or at night, especially after rain, and eats small arthropods. It is nonvenomous to people.
Observe from a distance. Never handle a wild snake. Stay safe
