Family: Viperidae
Viperidae are found on all continents except for Australia and Antarctica. They have long fangs for injecting venom. The 220+ species of Viperidae are grouped into four subfamilies. All but seven species are either Pit Vipers or True Vipers.
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: Crotalinae (Pit Vipers)
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Mexican Cantil
Agkistrodon bilineatus bilineatus Also known as the Mexican Ground Pit Viper, Cantil Viper, Cantil, Mexican Moccasin, Neotropical Moccasin, or Mexican Yellow-Lipped Viper, this species is native to Central America as far south as Costa Rica. They are shy snakes and are Near-Threatened due to habitat loss. There are three other subspecies with this species.
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Taylor's Cantil
Agkistrodon bilineatus taylori Also known as an Ornate Cantil, this snake inhabits northern Mexico. It grows to about 3 ft. in length and feeds on amphibians and small mammals. It is popular within the exotic pet trade, although its bite is dangerous and potentially fatal is untreated.
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With five subspecies here, this snake is native to the southeastern United States except for the peninsula of Florida. It has many common names: Copperhead, Chunk Head, Death Adder, Highland Moccasin, Narrow-Banded Copperhead, Northern Copperhead, Pilot Snake, Poplar Leaf Snake, Red Oak Snake, Red Snake, Southeastern Copperhead, White Oak Copperhead, American Copperhead, and Cantil Cobrizo. It grows to around 3 ft and preys on small rodents.
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Southern Cantil
Agkistrodon howardgloydi |
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Florida Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti One of three subspecies, and also known as a Green-Tailed Moccasin, this snake is native to the southeastern United States and Florida in particular. They grow to around 6 ft and live in wooded edges near water. Females only breed once every other year.
Also see: Albinism |
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Water Moccasin
Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus This is also one of the three subspecies of A. Piscivorus. Also known as a Eastern Cottonmouth, Cottonmouth Moccasin, or Moccasin, these snakes are native to the southeastern United States and the Carolinas east of the mountains in particular. They grow to around 6 ft and live near water.
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Jumping Pit Viper
Atropoides nummifer Also known as a Mexican Jumping Pit Viper.
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Side-Striped Palm Viper
Bothriechis lateralis Also known as a Side-Striped Palm-Pitviper, Coffee-Pam Viper, Green Palm Viper, or Yellow-Lined Palm Viper, this snake inhabits western Costa Rica and Panama. It rarely grows to over 3 ft. long. It prefers being motionless as its defense, although it will bite quickly if provoked. Its venom is dangerous though rarely fatal.
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Eyelash Viper
Bothriechis schlegeli Also known as a Eyelash Pit Viper, Eyelash Palm Viper, Eyelash Palm-Pitviper, Schlegel's Viper, Schlegel's Pit Viper, Schlegel's Palm Viper, Eyelash Snake, Eyelash Lancehead, Eyelash Mountain Viper, or Horned Palm Viper, this species is small averaging less than 30 inches long. It inhabits a region ranging from southern Mexico throughout Central America and into northern South America. It prefers humid tropical forests near permanent water.
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Crossed Pit Viper
Bothrops alternatus Native to central and southern South America, this snake grows to between 6 and 7 ft. It is also known as an Urutu or Wutu. It also has local South American common names based on local languages. It prefers tropical and subtropical regions where it can find ground a varied as swamps or open rocky terrain. Its bite is often non-fatal, although tissue damage is common for bite victims.
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Terciopelo
Bothrops asper Also known as a Fer-de-Lance, this species inhabits southern Mexico south through Central America and into South America. It has heat pits on its face just above the mouth to help detect prey in the dark. It grows to between 4 and 6 ft. and prefers habitats in lower elevations. It is both solitary and nocturnal.
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Brazilian Lancehead
Bothrops moojeni |
Also known as a Neuwied's Lancehead or Jararaca Pintada, this snake is one of 12 subspecies. It grows to around 2 ft. in length. This snake is native to Argentina and is a common source (80%) of snakes bites in that country. According to that source, none were fatal.
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Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus adamanteus Also known as a Diamond Rattlesnake, Common Rattlesnake, Diamond-Patch Rattler, Florida Diamondback Rattlesnake, Lozenge-Spotted Rattlesnake, Southern Woodland Rattler, Water Rattlesnake, this snake is the largest venomous and heaviest rattlesnake in North America. It is native to the southeastern United States and can grow to nearly 8 ft and over 30 lbs. It is considered the most venomous North American snakes, and bites are fatal to humans 10-20% of the time.
See also: Albinism |
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox Also known as a Adobe Snake, Arizona Diamond Rattlesnake, Coon Tail, Desert Diamondback, Desert Diamond Rattlesnake, Fierce Rattlesnake, Spitting Rattlesnake, or Texan Rattlesnake. This snake inhabits northern Mexico and the southwestern United States as far east as Arkansas and is blamed for the majority of fatal snake bites in Mexico. These snakes can grow to around 4 ft. With territories ranges from grasslands to rocky terrain they prey on small mammals and birds.
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One of three subspecies of Sidewinder, this snake is native to the Sonoran Desert of southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its venom is weaker than most other rattlesnakes. Adults prey on small rodents. Juveniles prey on lizards and use their tails as lures to draw the unsuspecting prey close.
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South American Rattlesnake
Crotalus durissus durissus Also known as a Tropical Rattlesnake, Neotropical Rattlesnake, Guiana Rattlesnake, Cascabel, or simply Sakasneki, this snake inhabits parts of southern Central America and eastern South America. It prefers drier grasslands and scrubs. Its venom contains a neurotoxin that interrupts the functions of skeletal muscles. There are 9 subspecies of this snake.
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Aruba Rattlesnake
Crotalus durissus unicolor This snake is also known as an Aruba Island Rattlesnake or a Cascabel. One of 9 subspecies of the Neotropical Rattlesnake, this snake is found only on the island of Aruba. Estimates are that less than 250 exist in the wild. It grows to nearly 3 ft. in length and feeds on rodents, small birds, and lizards.
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Also known as a Uracoan Rattlesnake, this species is native to Venezuela. It can grow to around 2 ft in length.
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Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus Also known as a Canebrake Rattlesnake or Banded Rattlesnake, this is the only rattlesnake species native to the northeastern United States. They grow to around 5 ft long and top out at around 10 lbs. Their range stretches from Connecticut south to northern Florida and west to eastern Oklahoma and northern Texas. They prey on small rodents and amphibians as well as garter snakes.
See also: Albinism |
Banded Rock Rattlesnake
Crotalus lepidus Also known as Green Rattlesnake, Rock Rattlesnake, or Green Rock Rattlesnake, this is one of four subspecies of Rock Rattlesnake. It lives along the southwestern borders of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas and in the northern states of Mexico. This nocturnal snake grows to around 2 ft. long and preys on rodents and lizards.
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Tamaulipan Rock Rattlesnake
Crotalus lepidus morulus This subspecies of Banded Rock Rattlesnake (see above) resides in the eastern Sierra Madres.
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Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus Also known as a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake or Pacific Rattlesnake.
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Mexican Lance-Headed Rattlesnake
Crotalus polystictus Also known simply as a Lance-Headed Rattlesnake, this snake is native to central Mexico. It can be just over 2 ft. long, although some have grown to 3 ft. It lives in rocky plateau regions at elevations between 4,000 and 8,000 ft.
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Western Twin-Spotted Rattlesnake
Crotalus pricei pricei Also known as a Twin-Spotted Rattlesnake, Price's Rattlesnake, Arizona Spotted Rattlesnake, and Spotted Rattlesnake, this species lives along the Arizona/New Mexico/Mexico border south into west-central Mexico. It only grows to about 2 ft long. Its Eastern subspecies counterpart (C. p. miquihuanus) lives along the eastern edge of northern Mexico.
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Northern Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus Also known as a Mojave Green, this species inhabits parts of southern California, Nevada, and Utah south into the Mexican Plateau. It lives at elevations ranging from sea level to over 8,000 feet. It prefers upland deserts and lower mountain slopes. It is very common in the prairie valleys between mountain ranges. Its venom contains both a neurotroxin and a hemotoxin.
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Tiger Rattlesnake
Crotalus tigris Also known as a Tiger Rattler, this species lives along southern Arizona into into Mexico. It only grows to about 2 ft long and 1 lb. It is nocturnal in the summer and diurnal in the cooler seasons. It hunts with a combination of ambush and active hunting. Small rodents and lizards are in its diet.
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This species lives in the Yucatan peninsula south into Belize. It prefers a variety of lower-elevation terrain. Little information is available about this snake.
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Also known as a Western Rattlesnake or Plains Rattlesnake, this species ranges across the Western United States from southern Canada to northern Mexico. It can live at elevations ranging from near-sea level to 10,000 ft. It grows to around 3 ft. and preys on small mammals, a few reptiles or amphibians, and even an occasional snake.
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Arizona Rattlesnake
Crotalus willardi |
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White-Lipped Pit Viper
Cryptelytrops albolabris Also known as a Green Tree Pit Viper, White-Lipped Tree Viper, White-Lipped Green Pit Viper, and White-Lipped Bamboo Pit Viper.
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Beautiful Pit Viper
Cryptelytrops venustus Also known as a Brown-Spotted Green Pit Viper, this snake is native to Thailand. There are two names for its genus, Trimeresurus being the other. This snake is typically nocturnal and preys on small reptiles and mammals. It grows to around 2 ft. long and is mildly venomous.
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Atlantic Forest Bushmaster
Lachesis muta This species lives in South America and even the island of Trinidad. It grows to 6-8 ft. When threatened it rattles its tail. It has no rattle, but among the leaves it can still make quite a lot of noise.
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Mexican Pit Viper
Mixcoatlus melanurus This snake is native to the mountains of southern Mexico and grows to only 15-18 inches long. In Mexico it's referred to as Necazcoatl meaning 'earred serpent'. Its habitat range is small, and continuing surveys document dwindling numbers.
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Mangshan Pit Viper
Protobothrops mangshanensis Also known as a Mt. Mang Pit Viper or Mang Mountain Pit Viper.
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Eastern Massasauga
Sistrurus catenatus |
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Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Sistrurus miliarius barbouri Also known as a Florida Ground Rattlesnake, Southeastern Ground Rattlesnake, Barbour's Pygmy Rattlesnake, Ground Rattlesnake, Hog-Nosed Rattler, or Small Rattlesnake, adults only grow to about 20 inches including the tail. It ranges from southern South Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana. Its venom is non-lethal (at this point) and accelerates clotting in the bloodstream.
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White-Lipped Island Pit Viper
Trimeresurus insularis Also known as an Indonesian Pit Viper, Lesser Sunda Islands Pit Viper, or Sunda White-Lipped Pit Viper.
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Philippine Pit Viper
Trimeresurus flavomaculatus mcgregori Also known as McGregor's Pit Viper, this snake is native to a handful of small protected islands in the Philippines. It prefers mid-level tropical rain forests. it hunts for frog-sized prey near water.
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Sri Lankan Pit Viper
Trimeresurus trigonocephalus Also known as a Ceylon Pit Viper,or Sri-Lankan Green Pit Viper.
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Subfamily: Viperinae (True Vipers)
Western Bush Viper
Atheris chlorechis Also known as a West African Leaf Viper or West African Tree Viper, this snake inhabits the forests of western Africa. It grows to around 2 ft. in length and feeds on small rodents and reptiles.
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Green Bush Viper
Atheris squamiger Also known as a Variable Bush Viper, Leaf Viper, Common Bush Viper, Bush Viper, or Tree Viper.
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Puff Adder
Bitis arietans Also known as an African Puff Adder or Common Puff Adder, this species grows to just over 3 ft in length. It is common throughout Africa except for the Sahara or the rain forests. Puff Adders rely on camouflage for protection and ambush their prey at night. Its venom causes blood vessels to deteriorate leading to hemorrhaging.
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West African Gaboon Viper
Bitis gabonica rhinoceros Also known as a Gabino Viper, this subspecies of Gaboon Viper is common in West Africa. You can differentiate it from the other subspecies by the 'horns' on its nostrils.
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Ethiopian Mountain Adder
Bitis parviocula |
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Armenian Viper
Montivipera raddei |
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Ocellated Mountain Viper
Montivipera wagneri Also known as an Ocellate Viper or Wagner's Viper.
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Eastern Sand Viper
Vipera ammodytes meridionalis Also known as a Horn-Nosed Viper.
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