Mississippi snakes: ID chart

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

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The 6 venomous snakes come first: Canebrake Rattlesnake, Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake, Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake, Eastern Cottonmouth, Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Harlequin Coralsnake, Southern Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth, Western Pygmy 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 Mississippi. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the Mississippi snakes page for photos, range and sources.

Canebrake Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus atricaudatus

Venomous

Canebrake rattlesnakes inhabit forest and river bottoms throughout the state, save the immediate Gulf Coast.

Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius miliarius

Venomous

Pygmy rattlesnakes range over most of Mississippi although records are lacking from the Delta …

Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius barbouri

Venomous

Pygmy rattlesnakes range over most of Mississippi although records are lacking from the Delta …

Eastern Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus

Venomous

They are often abundant in suitable habitats throughout Mississippi.

Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake

Crotalus adamanteus

Venomous

Habitat destruction, human persecution, and road mortalities have eliminated diamondbacks from most of the …

Harlequin Coralsnake

Micrurus fulvius

Venomous

Coral snakes inhabit sandy pinewoods in the southeastern counties of Mississippi.

Southern Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix

Venomous

Easily one of our most common snakes, copperheads are found everywhere except on the immediate Gulf Coast and …

Western Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma

Venomous

They are often abundant in suitable habitats throughout Mississippi.

Western Pygmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius streckeri

Venomous

Pygmy rattlesnakes range over most of Mississippi although records are lacking from the Delta …

Banded Watersnake

Nerodia fasciata fasciata

Non-venomous

Black Pinesnake

Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi

Non-venomous

Black-masked Racer

Coluber constrictor latrunculus

Non-venomous

Broad-banded Watersnake

Nerodia fasciata confluens

Non-venomous

Common Rainbow Snake

Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma

Non-venomous

Common Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis sauritus sauritus

Non-venomous

Delta Crayfish Snake

Regina rigida deltae

Non-venomous

Eastern Black Kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula niger

Non-venomous

Eastern Coachwhip

Masticophis flagellum flagellum

Non-venomous

No confirmed photo of Eastern Cornsnake

Eastern Cornsnake

Pantherophsis guttata

Non-venomous

Eastern Gartersnake

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Non-venomous

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Non-venomous

Eastern Indigo Snake

Drymarchon couperi

Non-venomous

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake

Virginia valeriae valeriae

Non-venomous

Eastern Wormsnake

Carphophis amoenus amoenus

Non-venomous

Florida Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata obscura

Non-venomous

Graham’s Crayfish Snake

Regina grahamii

Non-venomous

No confirmed photo of Gray Ratsnake

Gray Ratsnake

Pantherophsis obsoleta spiloides

Non-venomous

Gulf Coast Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis proximus orarius

Non-venomous

Gulf Crayfish Snake

Regina rigida sinicola

Non-venomous

Gulf Saltmarsh Snake

Nerodia clarkii clarkii

Non-venomous

Marsh Brownsnake

Storeria dekayi limnetes

Non-venomous

Midland Brownsnake

Storeria dekayi wrightorum

Non-venomous

Midland Watersnake

Nerodia sipedon pleuralis

Non-venomous

Midwestern Wormsnake

Carphophis amoenus helenae

Non-venomous

Mississippi Green Watersnake

Nerodia cyclopion

Non-venomous

Mississippi Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus stictogenys

Non-venomous

Mole Kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata

Non-venomous

Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake

Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer

Non-venomous

Northern Pinesnake

Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus

Non-venomous

Northern Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata

Non-venomous

Northern Rough Greensnake

Opheodrys aestivus aestivus

Non-venomous

Northern Scarletsnake

Cemophora coccinea copei

Non-venomous

Orange-striped Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis proximus proximus

Non-venomous

No confirmed photo of Pine Woods Littersnake

Pine Woods Littersnake

Rhadinea flavilata

Non-venomous

Prairie Kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster

Non-venomous

Queen Snake

Regina septemvittata

Non-venomous

Red Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum syspila

Non-venomous

Rough Earthsnake

Virginia striatula

Non-venomous

Scarlet Kingsnake

Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides

Non-venomous

No confirmed photo of Southeastern Crowned Snake

Southeastern Crowned Snake

Tantilla coronata

Non-venomous

Southern Black Racer

Coluber constrictor priapus

Non-venomous

Southern Hog-nosed Snake

Heterodon simus

Non-venomous

Speckled Kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula holbrooki

Non-venomous

Western Mudsnake

Farancia abacura reinwardtii

Non-venomous

Western Smooth Earthsnake

Virginia valeriae elegans

Non-venomous

Yellow-bellied Watersnake

Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster

Non-venomous

A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Mississippi Amphibians and Reptiles (Mississippi Herpetology Checklist), Revised 2012 (MDWFP); Reducing Snake Problems Around Homes (Publication 2277) (Mississippi State University Extension Service); Venomous Snakes of Mississippi (MDWFP); Cottonmouth (Venomous Snakes of Mississippi) (MDWFP); Snakes Alive! How to Identify Hazardous Snakes (Publication 3529) (Mississippi State University Extension Service); Pygmy Rattlesnake (Venomous Snakes of Mississippi) (MDWFP); and others listed on the web page. stateswildlife.com/mississippi/snakes/