Snake Encyclopedia
Search and identify 1,000+ snakes from around the world — with family, range, size, habitat, and how to tell similar species apart.
Central American Indigo Snake
A large, powerful colubrid related to the eastern indigo snake, with a glossy dark tail and lighter forebody.
Jamaican Boa
Jamaica's largest native snake, a constrictor known locally as the 'yellow snake' for its coloration, and considered vulnerable due to introduced predators.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
The largest rattlesnake in North America, a heavy-bodied species of southeastern pine forests and coastal habitats.
Transcaucasian Ratsnake
A small, secretive ratsnake of the Caucasus and surrounding mountains, closely related to the Aesculapian snake but with a much smaller range and size.
Steppe Ratsnake
A widespread, cold-tolerant ratsnake of the Eurasian steppe and taiga edges, ranging farther north than almost any other ratsnake species.
Red-tailed Racer
A slender, bright green arboreal snake from Southeast Asian rainforests, distinguished by the reddish-brown coloration of its tail contrasting with its emerald green body.
Coachwhip
A slender, exceptionally fast-moving colubrid named for its braided, whip-like tail pattern.
Mexican Yellowbelly Brown Snake
A small, secretive brown snake from southern Mexico distinguished by its pale yellowish underside.
Eastern Massasauga
A small, secretive rattlesnake of wetland prairies, now rare and protected across much of its range.
Timber Rattlesnake
A heavy-bodied woodland rattlesnake of the eastern United States, often showing dark chevron banding and a black tail.
Bockadam
A common brackish-water snake of Asian mangroves and estuaries, feeding mainly on fish and known for its dog-like snout.
Copperhead Rattlesnake
Despite the informal name, a rattle-less pit viper with a distinctive coppery, hourglass-banded pattern found across the eastern US.
Grey Whipsnake
A slender, grey-toned whipsnake of Australia's tropical north, active by day and known for its speed and sharp vision.
Sea Krait
A banded, amphibious sea snake that comes ashore to rest, digest, and lay eggs, unlike most fully marine sea snakes.
Racer
A slender, fast-moving, sharp-eyed snake known for its speed.
Banded Sea Krait
A distinctive black-and-pale banded sea snake that comes ashore to rest, digest, and lay eggs, unlike fully aquatic sea snakes.
Scarlet Kingsnake
A small, vividly banded red, black, and yellow kingsnake of the southeastern US that resembles the coral snake.
Prairie Kingsnake
A secretive, moderately patterned kingsnake of grasslands and open woods, often mistaken for a young rat snake or gopher snake.
Hooded Malpolon
A large, fast snake of the western Mediterranean known for its hood-like display, closely related to the Eastern Montpellier snake.
Dekay's Brownsnake
A tiny, secretive brown snake commonly found in gardens and vacant lots across much of eastern North America.
Jerdon's Pit Viper
A high-altitude pit viper of the eastern Himalayas and adjacent hill country, marked with bold black and yellow banding.
Smooth Earthsnake
A small, plain-colored, smooth-scaled snake found under forest debris across a broad swath of the eastern U.S.
Machete Savane
A large, strikingly patterned black-and-yellow colubrid found from Mexico to Argentina, known locally as the Machete Savane and famed for its speed.
Collared Whipsnake
A small, fast-moving whipsnake distinguished by a dark collar-like marking near the head, found in inland eastern Australia.