SNAKES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST

Below is a current list representing the two hundred and four (204) species and subspecies of snakes that occur in the region that we have defined as being the American Southwest.

Our goal is to eventually have at least one photo for every species/subspecies. 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.

The scientific and common names used in this section generally follow The 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, Crother, B. I. (ed.) SSAR Herpetological Circular No 37. However, SWCHR may on occasion deviate from that "standard" herpetological list to reflect SWCHR's preferences in favor of stability and conservative taxonomic practice.

Those species and subspecies that do have photos available are identified as clickable links on the list below. If you have photos 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.

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 Scarletsnake - Cemophora coccinea copei

Texas Scarletsnake - Cemophora coccinea lineri

Western Worm Snake - Carphophis vermis

Variable Sandsnake - 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

Sonoran Whipsnake - Coluber bilineatus

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

Sonoran Coachwhip - Coluber flagellum cingulum

Eastern Coachwhip - Coluber flagellum flagellum

Lined Coachwhip - Coluber flagellum lineatulus

Red Coachwhip - Coluber flagellum piceus

San Joaquin Coachwhip - Coluber flagellum ruddocki

Western Coachwhip - Coluber flagellum testaceus

California Striped Racer - Coluber lateralis lateralis

Alameda Striped Racer - Coluber lateralis euryxanthus

Ruthven's Whipsnake - Coluber schotti ruthveni

Schott's Whipsnake - Coluber shotti schotti

Central Texas Whipsnake - Coluber taeniatus girardi

Desert Striped Whipsnake - Coluber taeniatus taeniatus

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 Mudsnake - Farancia abacura reinwardtii

Tamaulipan Hook-nosed Snake - Ficimia streckeri

Chihiahuan Hook-nosed Snake - Gyalopion canum

Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snake - Gyalopion quadrangulare

Dusty Hog-nosed Snake - Heterodon gloydi

Mexican Hog-nosed Snake - Heterodon kennerlyi

Plains Hog-nosed Snake - Heterodon nasicus

Eastern Hog-nose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos

Texas Nightsnake - Hypsiglena jani texana

Mesa Verde Nightsnake - Hypsiglena chlorophaea loreala

Northern Desert Nightsnake - Hypsiglena chlorophaea deserticola

Sonora Nightsnake - Hypsiglena chlorophaea chlorophaea

San Diego Nightsnake - Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha klauberi

California Nightsnake - Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha nuchalata

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

Utah Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis pyromelana infralabialis

Arizona Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana

Louisiana Milksnake - Lampropeltis triangulum amaura

Mexican Milksnake - Lampropeltis triangulum annulata

New Mexico Milksnake - Lampropeltis triangulum celaenops

Central Plains Milksnake - Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis

Utah Milksnake - Lampropeltis triangulum taylori

California Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis zonata

Cat-eyed Snake - Leptodeira septentrionalis

Gulf Salt Marsh Watersnake - Nerodia clarkii clarkii

Mississippi Green Watersnake - Nerodia cyclopion

Yellow-bellied Watersnake - Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster

Blotched Watersnake - Nerodia erythrogaster transversa

Broad-banded Watersnake - Nerodia fasciata confluens

Brazos Watersnake - Nerodia harteri

Concho Watersnake - Nerodia paucimaculata

Northern Diamond-backed Watersnake - Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer

Northern Rough Greensnake - Opheodrys aestivus aestivus

Smooth Greensnake - Opheodrys vernalis

Brown Vine Snake - Oxybelis aeneus

Baird's Ratsnake - Pantherophis bairdi

Great Plains Ratsnake - Pantherophis emoryi

Texas Ratsnake - Pantherophis obsoletus

Slowinski's Cornsnake - Pantherophis slowinskii

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

Green Ratsnake - Senticolis triaspis intermedia

Variable Groundsnake - Sonora semiannulata semiannulata

South Texas Groundsnake - Sonora semiannulata taylori

Marsh Brownsnake - Storeria dekayi limnetes

Texas Brownsnake - 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 Gartersnake - Thamnophis atratus atratus

Oregon Gartersnake - Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Diablo Gartersnake - Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus

Sierra Gartersnake - Thamnophis couchii

Western Black-necked Gartersnake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis

Eastern Black-necked Gartersnake - Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus

Mountain Gartersnake - Thamnophis elegans elegans

Coast Gartersnake - Thamnophis elegans terrestris

Wandering Gartersnake - Thamnophis elegans vagrans

Brown Gartersnake - Thamnophis eques megalops

Gaint Gartersnake - Thamnophis gigas

Two-striped Gartersnake - Thamnophis hammondii

Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake - Thamnophis marcianus marcianus

Northwestern Gartersnake - Thamnophis ordinoides

Arid Land Ribbonsnake - Thamnophis proximus diabolicus

Gulf Coast Ribbonsnake - Thamnophis proximus orarius

Orange-striped Ribbonsnake - Thamnophis proximus proximus

Red-striped Ribbonsnake - Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus

Plains Gartersnake - Thamnophis radix

Narrow-headed Gartersnake - Thamnophis rufipunctatus

Eastern Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Texas Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis annectens

New Mexico Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis dorsalis

Valley Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi

California Red-sided Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis

Red-sided Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

San Francisco Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia

Sonoran Lyresnake - Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda

California Lyresnake - Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes

Texas Lyresnake - Trimorphodon vilkinsonii

Lined Snake - Tropidoclonion lineatum

Rough Earthsnake - Virginia striatula

Western Smooth Earthsnake - Virginia valeriae elegans

ELAPIDAE (Coral Snakes)

Arizona Coralsnake - Micruroides euryxanthus euryxanthus

Texas Coralsnake - Micrurus tener tener

HYDROPHIIDAE (Seasnakes)

Yellow-bellied Seasnake - 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

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

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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