We’ve tallied up 96 different types of snakes (species and sub-species) of snakes found in Texas. We’ll start with common snakes that are non-venomous, then move onto water snakes, and finish with venomous snakes you’ll find in the state. At the end of this article, you’ll be able to ID many of the most common and dangerous snakes found across the Lonestar State. Let’s get started!
Common Snakes Found In Texas
Most of the snakes that live in Texas are non-venomous. By our count, there are about 82 types of snakes stocks you can encounter in the state that lack venom. Most are harmless and would avoid any confrontation with humans. However, if cornered or threatened they can still bite. Let’s take a look at some of the more common snakes you may run into. Each one is non-venomous and they range from a little over a foot to up to 8 feet long!
Texas Garter Snake
The Texas garter snake is a subspecies of garter snake. Garter snakes are the most common snakes around the country and there are many different types of them. The Texas garter snake looks similar to other garter snakes, it’s usually just one to two feet long and very thin. It has an olive or brown body and two thin yellow stripes all along the body. What makes the Texas garter snake different is that in addition to the two yellow stripes it also has a thin red stripe that runs the length of its body. This reptile loves the water and is never found too far away from a pond or wetland. And while they prefer forests, grasslands, woodlands, they’re not averse to slithering onto your lawn either. Are they venomous? Yes, they are. However, thankfully, their bites are not fatal since their venom is rather mild.
Western Hognose Snake
The western hognose snake also likes sandy soil, but this snake prefers dry sandy soil like the kind that is in semi-desert areas. There is a lot of desert and semi-desert in Texas and you can find western hognose snakes across much of Texas because of that, though they’re less common in the eastern part of the state. Western hognose snakes are not usually longer than two feet, although females can reach a maximum of three feet long. They have brown, tan, or olive bodies and darker marking patches on their backs. What really sets these snakes apart is their nose. You can identify a Hognose snake by the upturned flat nose. That nose is what makes it easy for these snakes to burrow into the sand.
Milk Snake
The milk snake is an imposter that looks like a venomous coral snake. But the milk snake is not venomous. There are four different types of snakes in Texas that mimic the look of a Coral snake to try and fool predators. Milk snakes are about a foot and a half to two feet long and they have wide bands of bright red all down the length of their bodies. It’s the color around the bands that will tell you whether the snake is a milk snake or a venomous coral snake. If the thin bands next to the red bands are black it’s a milk snake. If those thin bands are yellow it’s a Coral snake and you need to be very careful around that snake. There are four subspecies of milk snakes in Texas (New Mexico, Louisiana, Central Plains, and Mexican) that are all similar in appearance but have subtle differences. The milk snake also looks very similar to the scarlet kingsnake, another non-venomous snake species that mimics the appearance of a coral snake.
Bullsnake
The bullsnake is one of the largest non-venomous snakes in the country. Some can be almost eight feet long. Bullsnakes have a color pattern that is very similar to the color pattern of a venomous diamondback rattlesnake. Sometimes if they are threatened or cornered bullsnakes will wave their tails and try to rattle to make predators think they are the venomous diamondback, but really they are not venomous. However, bullsnakes will still bite or act aggressively at times so it’s always smart to approach them with caution or leave them alone entirely. These subspecies of the gopher snake are fond of coniferous forests, grasslands, and woodlands. Their presence in your backyard is not necessarily a bad thing. Mice, rats, and even other rattlesnakes tend to be a favorite food item for these reptiles, making them something of a handy cleanup crew of sorts.
Yellow-Bellied Racer Snake
As you might have guessed from the name, a yellow-bellied racer snake is famous for its yellow belly. However, the appearance of the snake changes radically as they age. As juveniles (above picture), they have blotches across their body. Once they’ve aged to adulthood, they take on an olive-green color. These snakes are about five feet long usually and they are very thin. They can be extremely fast and sometimes move at speeds of 3-4 miles per hour. Yellow-bellied racer snakes also are a bit aggressive and they will bite. These snakes are not venomous, but any snake bite can be painful and require medical attention so it’s always best to be cautious if you run across a Yellow-Bellied Racer snake.
Water Snakes in Texas
Texas is home to many lakes, especially in its eastern half. With rivers, lakes, and marshland abundant across the state, it’s no surprise that Texas has its fair share of water snakes. A water snake is a snake that belongs to the genus Nerodia, there are 10 distinct species in this genus, and seven of them live in Texas. Water snake species in Texas include:
Salt Marsh SnakeMississippi Green Water SnakePlain-bellied Water SnakeBroad-banded Water SnakeBrazos Water SnakeConcho Water SnakeDiamondback Water Snake
It’s important to note that none of these water snakes are venomous. If you’re in the water and see a venomous snake it’s like a cottonmouth, which we’ll explore in more detail in our venomous snake section. But first, let’s take a look at the diamondback water snake, a species that’s common throughout much of Texas.
Diamondback Water Snake
Diamondback water snakes are a common site next to many slow-moving bodies of water across the state. The snakes have reached a maximum size of almost 6 feet, but are more commonly 3 to 4 feet long. The snake prefers to hunt by suspending over water on either rocks or branches and watch for fish beneath the surface. While diamondback snakes are not aggressive – they’d prefer to flee into the water – if cornered their bites can be painful. The snake can have a similar coloration to cottonmouth snakes but is non-venomous.
Venomous Snakes In Texas
There are a lot of venomous snakes in Texas, but most of them are rattlesnakes. In addition to several types of rattlesnakes, the other venomous snakes in Texas are the copperhead snake, coral snake, and the western cottonmouth snake. Let’s take an examination of each type of venomous snake beginning with rattlesnakes.
Rattlesnakes in Texas
There are more than 9 different kinds of rattlesnakes in Texas. Even though that might make it seem like you have a pretty good chance of getting bitten by a rattlesnake in Texas there are actually relatively few rattlesnake bites each year. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are about 7000 venomous snake bites in the United States each year. On average, those bites lead to just 5 fatalities. The biggest thing you need to remember is that any rattlesnake is going to make that distinctive rattle sound with its tail. If you hear that rattle, freeze in your tracks. Back up slowly. Don’t make any sudden movements and get out of that area as quickly as you can. That is the best way to prevent a rattlesnake bite. The types of rattlesnakes in Texas are:
MassasaugaDesert massasaugaWestern MassasaugaMojave RattlesnakePrairie RattlesnakeRock RattlesnakeBanded rock rattlesnakeMotted rock rattlesnakeTimber RattlesnakeWestern Diamondback RattlesnakeWestern Pygmy Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are not the only venomous snakes in Texas though.
Copperhead
Copperhead snakes have such good camouflage that when you’re in Texas plains or semi-desert area you could look right at a copperhead snake and not even see it. You will most likely hear it before you see it. These snakes love the sandy soil of the Texas semi-desert and the Texas heat. Be very careful where you step or where your horse steps if you are walking or riding in the semi-desert or desert because there could very well be a copperhead nearby. There are two species of copperhead in the state. The eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and the brown-banded copperhead (Agkistrodon laticinctus). The brown-banded copperhead is sometimes known as the Texas copperhead is more expansive across the state, being found all the way into the Big Bend area of West Texas. In comparison, eastern copperheads only live in the eastern 1/3 of the state. It’s important to note that while copperheads are not aggressive, due to their incredible camouflage they’re often stepped on or interfered with more than other venomous snakes. For that reason, there are more venomous bites from copperheads than any other snake in the United States.
Coral Snake
Coral snakes have extremely bright colors and they usually stand out. There are several snakes in Texas that mimic the colors of a coral snake but a true Coral snake has wide red bands that are bordered by thin yellow bands. Look for the yellow bands and if you see them back away as slowly as you can to avoid provoking the snake. While coral snakes can grow up to 4 feet in length, most only reach about half that size. Rather than striking their victims with fangs, they release their venom by chewing on their prey. While dangerous, fatalities from this species of snake are extremely uncommon.
Western Cottonmouth
Cottonmouth snakes are also sometimes called water moccasins. They are aquatic and stay near or in the water so you will only find them near lakes and rivers or in some areas of the coast. Cottonmouth snakes are long and usually dark olive green or black in color. The primary way to identify a cottonmouth snake is to look at the mouth. If there is a patch of white under the chin or on the sides of the mouth it’s a cottonmouth snake. In addition, cottonmouths have arrow-shaped heads and pits under their eyes that snakes similar in appearance (diamondback water snakes) will lack. While these snakes can grow up to five feet, generally they’re closer to two to three feet. When threatened they will often open their jaws and expose a very white mouth, hence the name “cottonmouth.”
A Complete List Of 96 Snakes In Texas
The number of snakes in Texas will forever be changing. For one, snakes move into new territories and are also extirpated from the state. Also, the process of determining which snakes are their own distinct species versus being “merely” a subspecies of another snake is a field that is the subject of considerable debate and constantly changes. However, one thing is clear: Texas has a greater variety of snakes than any other state in the Union. Below, we’ve compiled 96 different snakes that can be found in Texas. 82 are not venomous while 14 of these snakes are and deserve additional attention. For each snake if they’re a subspecies we’ve batched them underneath the species they belong to.
82 Non-venomous Snakes in Texas
Baird’s Rat SnakeBig Bend Blackhead SnakeBig Bend Patchnose SnakeBlack-striped SnakeBlackneck Garter SnakeBlind SnakesPlains blind snakeTrans-Pecos blink snakeNew Mexico blind snakeBrazos Water SnakeBroad-Banded Water SnakeBullsnake (Gopher Snake)Checkered Garter SnakeCoachwhip SnakeEastern coachwhip snakeWestern coachwhip snakeCommon Garter SnakeTexas Garter SnakeNew Mexico Garter SnakeConcho Water SnakeCrayfish SnakeDeKay’s Brown SnakeMarsh Brown SnakeTexas Brown SnakeDesert KingsnakeDiamondback Water SnakeEastern Hognose SnakeFlathead SnakeGlossy SnakesKansas glossy snakeTexas Glossy snakePainted desert glossy snakeGraham’s Crayfish SnakeGray-banded KingsnakeGround SnakeIndigo SnakeTexas Indigo SnakeLong-nosed SnakeLouisiana Pine SnakeMexican Blackhead SnakeMexican Hognose SnakeMexican Hooknose SnakeMilk SnakeCentral Plains milk snakeMexican milk snakeLouisiana milk snakeNew Mexico milk snakeMississippi Green Water SnakeMud SnakeNorthern Cat-eyed SnakePlain-bellied Water SnakePlains Blackneck SnakePlains Garter SnakePrairie KingsnakeRacersMexican racerSouthern black racerButtermilk racerTan racerEastern yellow-belly racerRat SnakesCorn snakeGreat Plains rat snakeRedbelly SnakeRing-necked SnakeRegal ring-necked snakeMississippi ring-necked sankePrairie ring-necked snakeRough Green SnakeSalt Marsh SnakeScarlet SnakesTexas scarlet snakeNorthern scarlet snakeSchott’s Whip SnakeSlowinki’s Corn SnakeSmooth Earth SnakeSmooth Green SnakeSouthwestern Blackhead SnakeSpeckled KingsnakeSpeckled RacerSriped Whip SnakeTexas Lyre SnakeTexas Lined SnakeTexas Night SnakeTexas Patchnose SnakeTrans-Pecos Rat SnakeWestern Hognose SnakeWestern Hooknose SnakeWestern Rat SnakeTexas Rat SnakeWestern Ribbon SnakeArid land ribbon snakeGulf Coast ribbon snakeRedstripe Ribbon SnakeWestern Worm Snake
14 Venomous Snakes in Texas
Black-tailed RattlesnakeBrown-banded CopperheadCottonmouthEastern CopperheadMassasaugaDesert massasaugaWestern MassasaugaMojave RattlesnakePrairie RattlesnakeRock RattlesnakeBanded rock rattlesnakeMotted rock rattlesnakeTexas Coral SnakeTimber RattlesnakeWestern Diamondback RattlesnakeWestern Pygmy Rattlesnake
Texas is home to 10 different rattlesnakes that include:
Western Diamondback RattlesnakeTimber RattlesnakeBanded Rock RattlesnakeMottled Rock RattlesnakeBlack-Tailed RattlesnakeMojave RattlesnakePrairie RattlesnakeWestern MassasaugaDesert MassasaugaPygmy Rattlesnake
