Nevada snakes: ID chart
27 snakes, 6 venomous (listed first), 2 mildly venomous. Last checked November 3, 2026.
The 6 venomous snakes come first: Great Basin Rattlesnake, Mojave Green Rattlesnake, Panamint Rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. The 2 mildly venomous ones follow. The rest follow from A to Z, each with a photo where we have one and a short note on where it lives in Nevada. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the Nevada snakes page for photos, range and sources.
.jpg){kind=link}
Great Basin Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus lutosus
Venomous
The Great Basin is the only rattlesnake inhabiting the northern two-thirds of the state.
Mojave Green Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
Venomous
The Mojave is found throughout the Mojave Desert of Southern Nevada
Panamint Rattlesnake
Crotalus stephensi
Venomous
Found in southwestern Nevada, the Panamint most commonly occurs in mountains and foothills.
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
Venomous
Most common in the valleys of the southern counties
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Crotalus pyrrhus
Venomous
The Speckled occurs in southeastern Nevada, south of Interstate 15 in Clark County and to the east of U.S …
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
Venomous
Extreme southern tip of Clark County along the Colorado River corridor from the Laughlin area north to …
_-_Flickr_-_2ndPeter.jpg){kind=link}
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
Mildly venomous
Southern Nevada (NDOW page map)
Smith’s Black-headed Snake
Tantilla hobartsmithi
Mildly venomous
Southern Nevada (NDOW page map)
California Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula californiae
Non-venomous
Desert Striped Whipsnake
Coluber taeniatus taeniatus
Not stated
Glossy Snake (Desert and Mojave subspecies)
Arizona elegans
Not stated
.jpg){kind=link}
Great Basin Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer deserticola
Non-venomous
Statewide (NDOW page map: eastern, southern, western regions)
.jpg){kind=link}
Long-nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei
Not stated
Mojave Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis
Not stated
Mojave Shovel-nosed Snake
Chionactis occipitalis
Not stated
Southern Nevada (NDOW page map)
Northern Desert Nightsnake
Hypsiglena chlorophaea deserticola
Not stated
.jpg){kind=link}
Northern Rubber Boa
Charina bottae
Not stated
Eastern western Nevada (NDOW page map)
_-_Flickr_-_2ndPeter_(4).jpg){kind=link}
Red Racer
Coluber flagellum piceus
Not stated
Rosy Boa
Lichanura orcutti
Not stated
Sierra Garter Snake
Thamnophis couchii
Not stated
Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis pyromelana
Non-venomous
Southern Nevada (NDOW page map)
Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake
Phyllorhynchus decurtatus
Not stated
Southern Nevada (NDOW page map)
Valley Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi
Not stated
,_Seitenansicht.jpg){kind=link}
Variable Ground Snake
Sonora semiannulata semiannulata
Not stated
_(29052021258).jpg){kind=link}
Wandering / Mountain Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
Not stated
Western Threadsnake
Rena humilis
Not stated
Southern Nevada (NDOW page map)
.jpg){kind=link}
Western Yellow-bellied Racer
Coluber constrictor mormon
Not stated
A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Great Basin Rattlesnake - Species Information (NDOW); Venomous Reptiles of Nevada (replaces SP-07-07; University of Nevada Extension SP-20-13 / NDOW brochure) (Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) with University of Nevada, Reno Extension); Mojave Green Rattlesnake - Species Information (NDOW); Sidewinder - Species Information (NDOW); Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake - Species Information (NDOW); Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Species Information (NDOW); and others listed on the web page. stateswildlife.com/nevada/snakes/