Virginia snakes: ID chart

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

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The 3 venomous snakes come first: Canebrake Rattlesnake (Coastal Plain Population of Timber Rattlesnake), Eastern Copperhead, Northern Cottonmouth, Timber 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 Virginia. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the Virginia snakes page for photos, range and sources.

Canebrake Rattlesnake (Coastal Plain Population of Timber Rattlesnake)

Crotalus horridus

Venomous

Timber rattlesnakes are common only in the mountainous regions of western Virginia and a small area of …

Eastern Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

Venomous

Northern Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus

Venomous

The distribution of cottonmouths in Virginia is primarily limited to the southeastern part of the state …

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Venomous

Timber rattlesnakes are common only in the mountainous regions of western Virginia and a small area of …

Brahminy Blindsnake

Indotyphlops braminus

Not stated

Brown Watersnake

Nerodia taxispilota

Non-venomous

Central Ratsnake

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Non-venomous

Common Rainbow Snake

Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma

Non-venomous

Common Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis saurita saurita

Non-venomous

Dekay’s Brownsnake

Storeria dekayi

Non-venomous

Eastern Black Kingsnake

Lampropeltis nigra

Non-venomous

Eastern Gartersnake

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Non-venomous

Eastern Glossy Swampsnake

Liodytes rigida rigida

Non-venomous

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Non-venomous

Eastern Kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula

Non-venomous

Eastern Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum

Non-venomous

Eastern Mudsnake

Farancia abacura abacura

Non-venomous

Eastern Pinesnake

Pituophis melanoleucus

Non-venomous

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake

Virginia valeriae valeriae

Non-venomous

Eastern Wormsnake

Carphophis amoenus amoenus

Non-venomous

Mountain Earthsnake

Virginia valeriae pulchra

Non-venomous

Northern Black Racer

Coluber constrictor constrictor

Non-venomous

Northern Mole Kingsnake

Lampropeltis rhombomaculata

Non-venomous

Northern Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus edwardsii

Non-venomous

This species is found statewide in Virginia with the exception of the lower portion of the Eastern Shore …

Northern Rough Greensnake

Opheodrys aestivus

Non-venomous

Northern Scarletsnake

Cemophora coccinea copei

Non-venomous

Northern Watersnake

Nerodia sipedon sipedon

Non-venomous

Queensnake

Regina septemvittata

Non-venomous

Red Cornsnake

Pantherophis guttatus

Non-venomous

Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata

Non-venomous

Red-bellied Watersnake

Nerodia erythrogaster

Non-venomous

Rough Earthsnake

Virginia striatula

Non-venomous

Scarlet Kingsnake

Lampropeltis elapsoides

Non-venomous

Smooth Greensnake

Opheodrys vernalis

Non-venomous

No confirmed photo of Southeastern Crowned Snake

Southeastern Crowned Snake

Tantilla coronata

Non-venomous

Southern Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus punctatus

Non-venomous

A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia (DWR); Snakes on the Water: Cottonmouth or Watersnake? (Virginia DWR); Celebrating Virginia’s Snakes in Honor of National Reptile Awareness Day (Virginia DWR); Problems with Snakes (Virginia DWR); Managing Human-Wildlife Interactions: Snakes (CNRE-56P, 420-021) (J. Parkhurst); Not So Spooky: Mythbusting Snakes and Bats (Virginia DWR); and others listed on the web page. stateswildlife.com/virginia/snakes/