Texas snakes: ID chart
77 snakes, 11 venomous (listed first). Last checked November 3, 2026.
The 11 venomous snakes come first: Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Massasauga, Mojave Rattlesnake, Prairie Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, Rock Rattlesnake, Texas Coralsnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Western Diamondback 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 Texas. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the Texas snakes page for photos, range and sources.
Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Crotalus molossus
Venomous
Averaging a length of 3-1/2 feet, it is found from Central Texas throughout most of West Texas in bushes and …
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Venomous
There are three subspecies of Copperheads in Texas; Southern copperhead (A.c. contortrix), 20-30 inches long …
Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Venomous
This heavy-bodied snake, which averages about 3-1/2 feet in length, is found over the eastern half of the …
Massasauga
Sistrurus catenatus
Venomous
They are two feet in length and found through the middle of the state in grasslands, marshy and swampy areas …
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
Venomous
Found only in extreme West Texas
Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
Venomous
Average length is about three feet and its found in the grassy plains of the western third of the state
Pygmy Rattlesnake
Sistrurus miliarius
Venomous
Found throughout the Pineywoods, with scattered populations in the Post Oak Savannah and Cross Timbers.
Rock Rattlesnake
Crotalus lepidus
Venomous
Found in the mountainous areas of West Texas …
Texas Coralsnake
Micrurus tener
Venomous
Coral snakes are found in the southeastern half of Texas in woodlands, canyons and coastal plains.
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Venomous
Found in the eastern third of the state in wooded areas in wet bottomlands.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
Venomous
This is the most common and widespread venomous snake in Texas, found in all but the easternmost part of the …
Baird's Ratsnake
Pantherophis bairdi
Not stated
Black-necked Gartersnake
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Not stated
Brahminy Blind Snake
Ramphotyphlops braminus
Not stated
Brazos River Watersnake
Nerodia harteri
Not stated
Cat-eyed Snake
Leptodeira septentrionalis
Not stated
Central American Indigo Snake
Drymarchon melanurus
Not stated
Checkered Gartersnake
Thamnophis marcianus
Not stated
Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake
Gyalopion canum
Not stated
Chihuahuan Lyresnake
Trimorphodon vilkinsonii
Not stated
Concho Watersnake
Nerodia paucimaculata
Not stated
Diamond-backed Watersnake
Nerodia rhombifer
Non-venomous
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
Not stated
Eastern Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora grahamiae
Not stated
Eastern Racer
Coluber constrictor
Not stated
Eastern Ratsnake
Pantherophis obsoletus
Not stated
Flat-headed Snake
Tantilla gracilis
Not stated
Glossy Crayfish Snake
Regina rigida
Not stated
Gophersnake
Pituophis catenifer
Non-venomous
They are very common throughout Texas except for the extreme east and extreme western Trans-Pecos.
Graham's Crayfish Snake
Regina grahamii
Not stated
Great Plains Ratsnake
Pantherophis emoryi
Not stated
Lined Snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum
Not stated
Long-nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei
Non-venomous
Mexican Black-headed Snake
Tantilla atriceps
Not stated
Mexican Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon kennerlyi
Not stated
Mississippi Green Watersnake
Nerodia cyclopion
Not stated
New Mexico Threadsnake
Leptotyphlops dissectus
Not stated
Northern Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
Not stated
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
Not stated
Plains Black-headed Snake
Tantilla nigriceps
Not stated
Plains Gartersnake
Thamnophis radix
Not stated
Plains Threadsnake
Leptotyphlops dulcis
Not stated
Prairie Kingsnake
Lampropeltis calligaster
Not stated
Red-bellied Brownsnake
Storeria occipitomaculata
Not stated
Regal Black-striped Snake
Coniophanes imperialis
Not stated
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
Not stated
Rough Earthsnake
Virginia striatula
Not stated
Scarletsnake
Cemophora coccinea
Non-venomous
Smith's Black-headed Snake
Tantilla hobartsmithi
Not stated
Smooth Earthsnake
Virginia valeriae
Not stated
Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
Not stated
Southern Watersnake
Nerodia fasciata
Not stated
Striped Whipsnake
Masticophis taeniatus
Not stated
Tamaulipan Hook-nosed Snake
Ficimia streckeri
Not stated
Trans-Pecos Black-headed Snake
Tantilla cucullata
Not stated
Trans-Pecos Ratsnake
Bogertophis subocularis
Non-venomous
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_(8bd5fbd1-6626-4d5b-b142-5ee7befe524b).jpg){kind=link}
170827-H-NI589-601_(36452753110).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_-_Flickr_-_2ndPeter.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
,_Chambers_Co.,_TX,_27_June_2015.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
,_Seitenansicht.jpg){kind=link}
_-_Flickr_-_2ndPeter.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_-_Flickr_-_2ndPeter.jpg){kind=link}
,_zusammengerollt.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Western Wormsnake
Carphophis vermis
Not stated
A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Herps of Texas: Snakes of Texas (Herps of Texas, Biodiversity Collections, Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin); Snakes Landing Page - Big Bend National Park (National Park Service); Hunter Education Online Course: Snakes (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department); TPWD Wildlife Fact Sheet: Louisiana Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum amaura) (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department); Venomous Terrestrial Animals of Texas (B-6118) (Texas Cooperative Extension); TPWD Wildlife Fact Sheet: Bullsnake (Pituophis catinefer sayi) (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department); and others listed on the web page. stateswildlife.com/texas/snakes/