Family: Colubridae
With over 1,900 species, this is the largest family of snakes. It's not a defined group but is, instead, a collection of closely related snakes that don't fit into any other group. Hopefully the use of genetic mapping will help distinguish which of these snakes are truly related and which might form other families. There are currently 11 subfamilies.
Colubridae are constrictors using muscle to squeeze and suffocate their prey. Most Colubrids are nonvenomous, but the Boomslang and Twigsnakes are venomous and have been known to kill humans.
No Information Domesticated Near Threatened Endangered Extinct in the Wild
Data Deficient Least Concern Vulnerable Critically Endangered
Data Deficient Least Concern Vulnerable Critically Endangered
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Also known as a Boie's Whip Snake, Gunther's Whip Snake, or Oriental Whip Snake.
For more information select the common name above.
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Trans-Pecos Ratsnake
Bogertophis subocularis Also known as a Davis-Mountain Ratsnake, this species ranges from the Mexican state of Coahuila north into Texas and New Mexico. They only grow to around 4 ft and feed on small vertebrates.
Also see: Albinism For more information select the common name above.
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Mangrove Snake
Boiga dendrophila Also known as a Gold-Ringed Cat Snake, this species can grow to nearly 8 ft. This snake has rear fangs and is mildly venomous. It is native to southeast Asia. It is also nocturnal and fairly aggressive. There are currently nine subspecies.
For more information select the common name above.
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Yellow-Striped Ratsnake
Coelognathus flavolineatus Also known as a Black Copper Ratsnake, this species lives in Southeast Asia. This species is not threatened by any development or trade.
For more information select the common name above.
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Blue Racer
Coluber constrictor foxii For more information select the common name above.
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Western Racer
Coluber constrictor mormon Also known as a Western Yellow-Bellied Racer.
For more information see here also.
For more information select the common name above.
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Southern Black Racer
Coluber constrictor priapus This is one of the most common snakes in the southeastern United States. They are general predators eating whatever they can overpower. They feign aggressiveness but will retreat. These snakes do not make good pets and resist handling.
For more information select the common name above.
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Indigo Snake
Drymarchon corais Also known simply as a Cribo, there is next to no information about this snake. Links direct readers to the Eastern Indigo Snake (D. couperi). As far as I could find, except for generalities on Indigo snakes, specifics on this particular snake are absent. If I come across more information later, I will update this.
For more information select the common name above.
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Eastern Indigo Snake
Drymarchon couperi At 9 ft, this species is the longest snake native to North America. It resides in Florida and the southern parts of Georgia and Alabama. It has several common names as well: Blue Indigo Snake, Black Snake, Blue Gopher Snake, and Blue Bull Snake.
For more information select the common name above.
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Red-Tailed Green Ratsnake
Gonyosoma oxycephalum Also known as an Arboreal Ratsnake or Red-Tailed Racer, this species is native to southeast Asia. They can grow to nearly 8 ft. and can live up to 20 years in captivity. This snake lives in trees rarely going down to the ground. If threatened it can inflate air sacs near its head to appear larger.
For more information select the common name above.
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California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae For more information select the common name above.
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Florida Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula floridana Native to southern Florida, these snakes grow to 4-6 ft. They feed on rodents and can be kept as pets.
One of 8 subspecies of Kingsnake: Malpropeltis getula.
For more information select the common name above.
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Eastern King Snake
Lampropeltis getula getula One of 8 subspecies of Kingsnake: Malpropeltis getula.
For more information select the common name above.
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Apalachicola Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula meansi One of 8 subspecies of Kingsnake: Malpropeltis getula.
For more information select the common name above.
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Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigra Although some have grown to 6 ft, this snake averages around 4 ft. This species lives in the foothills from southern Illinois and Ohio south to Southern Alabama.
For more information select the common name above.
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Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis pyromelana Also known as an Arizonan Mountain Kingsnake.
For more information select the common name above.
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Pueblan Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli Also known as a Campbell's Milk Snake, this species is commonly bred in captivity. In the wild, this species lives in south-central Mexico. It's nocturnal and will eat any small vertebrates it can overpower including other snakes.
For more information select the common name above.
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Honduran Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis Native to lower elevations of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, this snake is one of the larger subspecies of Milk Snake. This species hunts venomous snakes as well as birds, lizards, and rodents. These snakes are docile and adapt well to their environment. They are popular as pets.
For more information select the common name above.
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Sinaloan Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae For more information select the common name above.
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California Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata For more information select the common name above.
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Eastern Coachwhip Snake
Masticophis flagellum flagellum This is one of 7 subspecies of coachwhip snake. These are native to southern United States and northern Mexico. These snakes are active during the day, eat small birds, lizards, or rodents, and are somewhat curious. They prefer sandy scrub, dunes, or prairies.
For more information select the common name above.
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Rough Green Snake
Opheodrys aestivus Also known as a Greensnake or Rough Greensnake, this species is found as far west as New Mexico and as far east as New Jersey. It prefers dense vegetation near water which it can use to hide its eggs. These snakes may nest communally in hollowed pockets in trees anywhere from one to ten feet above the ground.
For more information select the common name above.
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Cave Dwelling Ratsnake
Orthriophis taeniurus ridleyi These snakes commonly inhabit caves occasionally coming to the entrance. They are specialist predators feeding on bats flying past the entrance to feed.
For more information select the common name above.
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Eastern Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis Also known as a Black Rat Snake, Pilot Snake, Pilot Black Snake, Chicken Snake, or Everglades Ratsnake.
For more information select the common name above.
see also: Eastern Ratsnake
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Yellow Rat Snake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis quadrivittata A subspecies of the Eastern Ratsnake
For more information select the common name above.
see also: Eastern Ratsnake
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Great Plains Ratsnake
Pantherophis emoryi Ranging from Missouri, Nebraska, and Colorado south through Texas and into northern Mexico, these snakes are largely nocturnal. If threatened they will curl up and shake their tails within surrounding leaf litter leading to the misconception that they are rattlesnakes. These snakes are common as pets.
For more information select the common name above.
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Red Ratsnake
Pantherophis guttatus Commonly known as a Corn Snake, this species is docile and reluctant to bite. They grow to around 6 ft and are among the most user-friendly snakes. They prey on small rodents that become a nuisance around farms.
For more information select the common name above.
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Black Ratsnake
Pantherophis obsoletus Also known as a Texas Ratsnake or Pilot Black Snake, this species lives in the central United States. It has been found as far north as Canada and as far south as Texas. There are several other common names for this snake including: Alleghany Black Snake, Black Chicken Snake, Black Coluber, Chicken Snake, Mountain Pilot Snake, Pilot, Rusty Black Snake, Scaly Black Snake, Cow Snake, Schwartze Schlange, Sleepy John, and White-Throated Racer.
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For more information select the common name above.
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Grey Ratsnake
Pantherophis spiloides Also known as a Midlands Ratsnake, this species grows to around 6 ft. It's common in the forests of the eastern and central United States.
For more information select the common name above.
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Also known as a Bird Snake.
For more information select the common name above.
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Bull Snake
Pituophis catenifer sayi A subspecies of the Gopher Snake, this snake is native to southwestern Canada. They average 6 ft but can grow to nearly 8 ft. They prey on small rabbits, gophers, nesting birds, or bird eggs.
For more information select the common name above.
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Florida Pine Snake
Pituophis melanoleucus mugitis Also known as a Bull Snake, Black and White Snake, Carpet Snake, Chicken Snake, Common Bull Snake, Eastern Pine Snake, Eastern Bull Snake, Horned Snake, Pilot Snake, or White Gopher Snake. This snake is native to Florida. Its size can range from 4 ft to 8 ft. It hides in the burrows of other animals or is able to dig its own if necessary.
For more information select the common name above.
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Leaf-Nosed Ratsnake
Rhynchophis boulengeri Also known as a Rhinoceros Snake, Rhinoceros Ratsnake, or Vietnamese Longnose Snake, this species is native to northern Vietnam and southern China. It prefers subtropical rain forests and hunts small rodents at night.
For more information select the common name above.
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Also known as a Caninana, Chicken Snake, Yellow Ratsnake, or Serpiente Tigre.
For more information select the common name above.
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Subfamily: Homalopsinae
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Tentacled Snake
Erpeton tentaculatum For more information select the common name above.
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Subfamily: Natricinae
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Mangrove Salt-Marsh Snake
Nerodia clarkii compressicauda One of three subspecies, these species prefers brackish waters from Texas to Florida. Each subspecies populates a different section of the Gulf coastline.
For more information select the common name above.
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Florida Green Water Snake
Nerodia floridana For more information select the common name above.
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Also called a Lake Erie Water Snake, this large species ranges from southern Ontario and Quebec down to Texas and Florida. They hunt along the water's edge. One of the northern species was previously endangered, but it has made a comeback due to an invasive species that now makes up 90% of its diet. Interesting that the invasive species is so helpful in helping reestablish a native species.
For more information select the common name above.
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Northwestern Garter Snake
Thamnophis ordinoides For more information select the common name above.
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Blue-Striped Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis similis One of thirteen subspecies of the Garter Snake.
For more information select the common name above.
see also: Garter Snake
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Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Also known as an Eastern Garter Snake, this is one of thirteen subspecies of Garter Snake. It's active during the day hunting amphibians or small rodents. The Garter Snake is immune to the toxin of the Rough-Skinned Newt (lethal enough to kill a human).
For more information select the common name above.
see also: Garter Snake
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Subfamily: Psammophiinae
Rufous-Beaked Snake
Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus This snake is native to eastern Africa and is mildly venomous. It grows to 3-4 ft. and lives in brushland ecosystems. It is a diurnal hunter but will still hide during the hottest parts of the day. It hunts small mammals and reptiles and will even hunt other snakes.
For more information select the common name above.
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Subfamily: Pseudoxyrhophiinae
Malagasy Cat-Eyed Snake
Madagascarophis meriodionalis There are four subspecies of this mildly-venomous snake. All live on the island of Madagascar. There is little information on this particular subspecies, but all indication is that it has a stable non-threatened population.
See also: genus - Madagascarophis For more information select the common name above.
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Subfamily: Xenodontinae
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False Water Cobra
Hydrodynastes gigas Also known as a False Cobra, South American Water Cobra, and Brazilian Smooth Snake, this species is referred to as a "Falsy", "Falsie", or "FWC" in the pet trades. It gets its name from its ability to flatten its neck, although it does this while horizontal and not rearing up.
For more information select the common name above.
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Baron's Green Racer
Philodryas baroni Named in honor of the first person to discover this species, this snake is native to South America. It grows to between 4 and 6 ft with males being smaller than females. It feeds on small mammals and reptiles and is mildly venomous.
For more information select the common name above.
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Tri-Colored Hognose Snake
Xenodon pulcher For more information select the common name above.
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