Arkansas snakes: ID chart

37 snakes, 6 venomous (listed first). Last checked November 3, 2026.

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The 6 venomous snakes come first: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Texas Coral Snake, Timber Rattlesnake, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Western Pigmy Rattlesnake. The rest follow from A to Z, each with a photo where we have one and a short note on where it lives in Arkansas. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the Arkansas snakes page for photos, range and sources.

Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

Venomous

Statewide

Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus

Venomous

Statewide; uncommon in upland streams of Ozark Highlands and Ouachita mountains

Texas Coral Snake

Micrurus tener

Venomous

Southern Arkansas, west of the Ouachita River and south of the Little Missouri River

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Venomous

Statewide

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Crotalus atrox

Venomous

Uplands of Ouachita Mountains and southwestern Ozark highlands

Western Pigmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius

Venomous

Statewide; lacking records for most of the Mississippi Delta

No confirmed photo of Black Rat Snake

Black Rat Snake

Pantherophis obsoleta

Non-venomous

Statewide

No confirmed photo of Broad-banded Water Snake

Broad-banded Water Snake

Nerodia fasciata

Non-venomous

Mississippi Delta and Coastal Plain; also found in areas of eastern Ozark and Ouachita mountains

Brown Snake

Storeria dekayi

Non-venomous

Statewide

Coachwhip

Masticophis flagellum

Non-venomous

Almost statewide; absent from Mississippi Delta

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Non-venomous

Statewide

Diamondback Water Snake

Nerodia rhombifer

Non-venomous

Coastal Plain, Mississippi Delta and the valleys of the Arkansas and White rivers

Eastern Hognose Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Non-venomous

Statewide, but very localized populations

Eastern Worm Snake

Carphophis amoenus

Non-venomous

Crowley’s Ridge, Ozark Plateau, Ouachita Mountains and western Coastal Plain

Flathead Snake

Tantilla gracilis

Non-venomous

Ozark Plateau, Ouachita Mountains, Coastal Plain, and one known locality from Crowley’s Ridge Absent from …

Glossy Crayfish Snake

Regina rigida

Non-venomous

Mississippi Delta and Coastal Plain

Graham’s Crayfish Snake

Regina grahamii

Non-venomous

Mississippi Delta and Coastal Plain; isolated record from the western Arkansas River Valley

Great Plains Rat Snake

Pantherophis emoryi

Non-venomous

An uncommon snake of the Ozark Plateau and Ouachita Mountains

Ground Snake

Sonora semiannulata

Non-venomous

Two records from Benton County

Lined Snake

Tropidoclonion lineatum

Not stated

Milk Snake

Lampropeltis triangulum

Non-venomous

Statewide

Mississippi Green Water Snake

Nerodia cyclopion

Non-venomous

Mississippi Delta and Coastal Plain

Mud Snake

Farancia abacura

Non-venomous

Mississippi Delta and Coastal Plain

Northern Water Snake

Nerodia sipedon

Non-venomous

Statewide, but uncommon in the Delta

Plainbelly Water Snake

Nerodia erythrogaster

Non-venomous

Almost statewide; apparently absent from north-central Ozarks

Prairie Kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligaster

Non-venomous

Almost statewide, apparently absent east of the White River

Queen Snake

Regina septemvittata

Non-venomous

Restricted to isolated streams in the Ozark Plateau

Racer

Coluber constrictor

Non-venomous

Statewide

Redbelly Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata

Non-venomous

Statewide, but very few records from the Mississippi Delta

Ringneck Snake

Diadophis punctatus

Non-venomous

Statewide, but only two records known east of the White River

Rough Earth Snake

Virginia striatula

Non-venomous

Statewide, very few records for Mississippi Delta

Rough Green Snake

Opheodrys aestivus

Non-venomous

Statewide

Scarlet Snake

Cemophora coccinea

Non-venomous

Statewide

Smooth Earth Snake

Virginia valeriae

Non-venomous

Ozark Plateau, Ouachita Mountains and Coastal Plain Absent from Crowley’s Ridge and Mississippi Delta

Speckled Kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula

Non-venomous

Statewide

Western Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis proximus

Non-venomous

Statewide

Western Worm Snake

Carphophis vermis

Non-venomous

Crowley’s Ridge, Ozark Plateau, Ouachita Mountains and western Coastal Plain

A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Arkansas Snake Guide (pocket guide; Kelly J. Irwin, AGFC herpetologist) (AGFC); Learn how to identify Arkansas's venomous snakes (AGFC); Big faker: Eastern hognose is Arkansas's counterfeit cobra (AGFC); 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan, Chapter 2: Species of Greatest Conservation Need (AGFC). stateswildlife.com/arkansas/snakes/