Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research - Snakes of the American Southwest

SNAKES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST

Below is a current list representing the two hundred and three (203) species and subspecies of snakes that occur in
the region that we have defined as being the American Southwest.

   Our goal is to eventually display one or more photographs for every species/subspecies listed below. We also plan to
   eventually provide habitat photographs and range maps for as many species as possible along with the
   legal/protective status of each in the states where they occur within our region.

To help maintain some degree of taxonomic stability and reduce confusion, we here at the Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research (SWCHR) have elected to take a conservative taxonomic approach when deciding which scientific and common names to utilize in this species listing. Please click here for an explanation of our philosophy regarding taxonomic issues. In cases where we feel that the current taxonomy of a species/subspecies is either controversial, or if we for any reason elected not to follow either Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and reptiles of North America North of Mexico with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 6th Edition, 2008 by Brian I. Crother, et al or Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians, 7th Edition (2009) by Joseph T. Collins and Travis W. Taggart, we have linked a taxonomic note to the listing which explains our reasoning.
Those species and subspecies that do have photos available are identified as clickable links on the list below. If you have good quality photographs that you have taken of species/subspecies that do not yet have photos, you are encouraged to submit them for possible inclusion. Please see our Call for Papers and Photos section for more information.

A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus)
coiled at the base of a Agave chrysantha in Yavapai County, Arizona
Photo by Riley Campbell

BOIDAE (Boas and Pythons)

Northern Rubber Boa - Charina bottae
Southern Rubber Boa - Charina umbratica
Desert Rosy Boa - Lichanura trivirgata gracia
Coastal Rosy Boa - Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca
Mexican Rosy Boa - Lichanura trivirgata trivirgata

COLUBRIDAE (Colubrids)

Texas Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans arenicola
Mojave Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans candida
Desert Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans eburnata
Kansas Clossy Snake - Arizona elegans elegans
Arizona Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans noctivaga
California Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans occidentalis
Painted Desert Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans philipi
Baja California Ratsnake - Bogertophis rosaliae
Trans-Pecos Ratsnake - Bogertophis subocularis subocularis
Northern Scarlet Snake - Cemophora coccinea copei
Texas Scarlet Snake - Cemophora coccinea lineri
Western Worm Snake - Carphophis vermis
Variable Sand Snake - Chilomeniscus stramineus
Colorado Desert Shovel-nosed Snake - Chionactis occipitalis annulata
Tucson Shovel-nosed Snake - Chionactis occipitalis klauberi
Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake - Chionactis occipitalis occipitalis
Nevada Shovel-nosed Snake - Chionactis occipitalis talpina
Organ Pipe Shovel-nosed Snake - Chionactis palarostris organica
Buttermilk Racer - Coluber constrictor anthicus
Tan Racer - Coluber constrictor etheridgei
Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer - Coluber constrictor flaviventris
Western Yellow-bellied Racer - Coluber constrictor mormon
Mexican Racer - Coluber constrictor oaxaca
Southern Black Racer - Coluber constrictor priapus
Tamaulipan Black-striped Snake - Coniophanes imperialis imperialis
Sharp-tailed Snake - Contia tenuis
Pacific Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus amabilis
Prairie Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus arnyi
San Bernardino Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus modestus
Northwestern Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus occidentalis
Coral-bellied Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus pulchellus
Regal Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus regalis
San Diego Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus similis
Mississippi Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus stictogenys
Monterey Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus vandenburgii
Texas Indigo Snake - Drymarchon melanurus erebennus
Northern Speckled Racer - Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus
Western Mud Snake - Farancia abacura reinwardtii
Tamaulipan Hook-nosed Snake - Ficimia streckeri
Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake - Gyalopion canum
Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snake - Gyalopion quadrangulare
Mexican Hog-nosed Snake - Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi
Plains Hog-nosed Snake - Heterodon nasicus nasicus
Eastern Hog-nose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos
Chihuahuan Night Snake - Hypsiglena jani
Desert Night Snake - Hypsiglena chlorophaea
Coast Night Snake - Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus
Gray-Banded Kingsnake - Lampropeltis alterna
Prairie Kingsnake - Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster
California Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula californiae
Speckled Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
Western Black Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula nigrita
Desert Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula splendida
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana
Chihuahuan Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis pyromelana knoblochi
Louisiana Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum amaura
Mexican Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum annulata
New Mexico Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum celaenops
Central Plains Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis
Utah Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum taylori
California Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis zonata
Northern Cat-eyed Snake - Leptodeira septentrionalis
Sonoran Whipsnake - Masticophis bilineatus
Sonoran Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum cingulum
Eastern Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum flagellum
Lined Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum lineatulus
Red Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum piceus
San Joaquin Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum ruddocki
Western Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum testaceus
California Striped Racer - Masticophis lateralis lateralis
Alameda Striped Racer - Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus
Ruthven's Whipsnake - Masticophis schotti ruthveni
Schott's Whipsnake - Masticophis schotti schotti
Central Texas Whipsnake - Masticophis taeniatus girardi
Desert Striped Whipsnake - Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus
Gulf Salt Marsh Water Snake - Nerodia clarkii clarkii
Mississippi Green Water Snake - Nerodia cyclopion
Yellow-bellied Water Snake - Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster
Blotched Water Snake - Nerodia erythrogaster transversa
Broad-banded Water Snake - Nerodia fasciata confluens
Brazos Water Snake - Nerodia harteri
Concho Watersnake - Nerodia paucimaculata
Northern Diamond-backed Water Snake - Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer
Northern Rough Green Snake - Opheodrys aestivus aestivus
Smooth Green Snake - Opheodrys vernalis
Brown Vine Snake - Oxybelis aeneus
Baird's Ratsnake - Pantherophis bairdi
Great Plains Ratsnake - Pantherophis guttatus emoryi
Intermountain Ratsnake - Pantherophis guttatus intermontanus
Thornscrub Ratsnake - Pantherophis guttatus meahllmorum
Slowinski's Corn Snake - Pantherophis guttatus slowinskii
Texas Ratsnake - Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri
Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake - Phyllorhynchus browni
Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake - Phyllorhynchus decurtatus
Sonoran Gopher Snake - Pituophis catenifer affinis
San Diego Gopher Snake - Pituophis catenifer annectens
Pacific Gopher Snake - Pituophis catenifer catenifer
Great Basin Gopher Snake - Pituophis catenifer deserticola
Santa Cruz Island Gopher Snake - Pituophis catenifer pumilis
Bullsnake - Pituophis catenifer sayi
Louisiana Pine Snake - Pituophis ruthveni
Graham's Crayfish Snake - Regina grahamii
Gulf Crayfish Snake - Regina rigida sinicola
Long-nosed Snake - Rhinocheilus lecontei
Mountain Patch-nosed Snake - Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae
Texas Patch-nosed Snake - Salvadora grahamiae lineata
Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake - Salvadora hexalepis deserticola
Desert Patch-nosed Snake - Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis
Mojave Patch-nosed Snake - Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis
Coast Patch-nosed Snake - Salvadora hexalepis virgultea
Northern Green Ratsnake - Senticolis triaspis intermedia
Variable Ground Snake - Sonora semiannulata semiannulata
South Texas Ground Snake - Sonora semiannulata taylori
Marsh Brown Snake - Storeria dekayi limnetes
Texas Brown Snake - Storeria dekayi texana
Florida Red-bellied Snake - Storeria occipitomaculata obscura
Mexican Black-headed Snake - Tantilla atriceps
Trans-Pecos Black-headed Snake - Tantilla cucullata
Flat-headed Snake - Tantilla gracilis
Smith's Black-headed Snake - Tantilla hobartsmithi
Plains Black-headed Snake - Tantilla nigriceps
Western Black-headed Snake - Tantilla planiceps
Chihuahuan Black-headed Snake - Tantilla wilcoxi
Yaqui Black-headed Snake - Tantilla yaquia
Santa Cruz Garter Snake - Thamnophis atratus atratus
Oregon Garter Snake - Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus
Diablo Garter Snake - Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus
Sierra Garter Snake - Thamnophis couchii
Western Black-necked Garter Snake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis
Eastern Black-necked Gartersnake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus
Mountain Garter Snake - Thamnophis elegans elegans
Coast Garter Snake - Thamnophis elegans terrestris
Wandering Garter Snake - Thamnophis elegans vagrans
Northern Mexican Garter Snake - Thamnophis eques megalops
Gaint Garter Snake - Thamnophis gigas
Two-striped Garter Snake - Thamnophis hammondii
Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake - Thamnophis marcianus marcianus
Northwestern Garter Snake - Thamnophis ordinoides
Arid Land Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus diabolicus
Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus orarius
Orange-striped Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus proximus
Red-striped Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus
Plains Garter Snake - Thamnophis radix
Narrow-headed Garter Snake - Thamnophis rufipunctatus
Eastern Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Texas Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis annectens
New Mexico Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis dorsalis
Valley Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi
California Red-sided Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis
Red-sided Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
San Francisco Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia
Sonoran Lyre Snake - Trimorphodon lambda
Baja California Lyre Snake - Trimorphodon lyrophanes
Chihuahuan Lyre Snake - Trimorphodon vilkinsonii
Lined Snake - Tropidoclonion lineatum
Rough Earth Snake - Virginia striatula
Western Smooth Earth Snake - Virginia valeriae elegans

ELAPIDAE (Coral Snakes)

Arizona Coral Snake - Micruroides euryxanthus euryxanthus
Texas Coral Snake - Micrurus tener tener

HYDROPHIIDAE (Sea Snakes)

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake - Pelamis platurus

LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE (Threadsnakes)

Plains Threadsnake - Leptotyphlops dulcis dulcis
South Texas Threadsnake - Leptotyphlops dulcis rubellum
New Mexico Threadsnake - Leptotyphlops dissectus
Southwestern Threadsnake - Leptotyphlops humilis humilis
Desert Threadsnake - Leptotyphlops humilis cahuilae
Trans-Pecos Threadsnake - Leptotyphlops humilis segregus
Utah Threadsnake - Leptotyphlops humilis utahensis

TYPHLOPIDAE (Robust Blindsnakes)

Brahminy Blindsnake - Ramphotyphlops braminus (Introduced Species)

VIPERIDAE (Vipers)

Southern Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix
Broad-banded Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus
Trans-Pecos Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster
Western Cottonmouth - Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox (includes audio file)
Mohave Desert Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes cerastes
Sonoran Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes cercobombus
Colorado Desert Sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes laterorepens
Arizona Black Rattlesnake - Crotalus cerberus
Timber Rattlesnake - Crotalus horridus
Banded Rock Rattlesnake - Crotalus lepidus klauberi
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake - Crotalus lepidus lepidus (includes audio file)
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake - Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus
Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus molossus
Grand Canyon Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus abyssus
Midget Faded Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus concolor
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus helleri
Great Basin Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus lutosus
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus oreganus
Western Twin-spotted Rattlesnake - Crotalus pricei pricei
Red Diamond Rattlesnake - Crotalus ruber
Northern Mohave Rattlesnake - Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
Panamint Rattlesnake - Crotalus stephensi
Tiger Rattlesnake - Crotalus tigris
Prairie Rattlesnake - Crotalus viridis
New Mexico Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake - Crotalus willardi obscurus
Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake - Crotalus willardi willardi
Desert Massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii
Western Massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus tergerminus
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake - Sistrurus miliarius streckeri

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