• News
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Planet Earth
  • Strange News
  • Animals
  • History
  • Culture
  • Space
Live Science
  • News
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Planet Earth
  • Strange News
  • Animals
  • History
  • Culture
  • Space
Live Science
News Tech Health Planet Earth Strange News Animals History Culture Space
  • Live Science
  • Animals

Image Gallery: Snakes of the World

By Livescience.com, staff | November 1, 2008 12:00pm ET
  • MORE

Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake

Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Found only in Florida, the Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake is threatened by waterfront development that eats into its habitat.

Broad-banded Copperhead

Broad-banded Copperhead

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The copperhead is the most common venomous snake in the Eastern United States.

Brown Tree Snake

Brown Tree Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The brown tree snake is venomous, but its venom is not very dangerous to adults. However, the snake has wrecked havoc on the island of Guam, where it is an invasive species. Brown tree snakes have destroyed Guam's native bird population and often cause power outages by climbing on electrical wires.

Bullsnake

Bullsnake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Bullsnakes are sometimes mistaken for rattlesnakes, but they're nonvenomous. In fact, the snakes are important for controlling the rodent population in areas such as Nebraska.

California Glossy Snake

California Glossy Snake

Credit: Chris Brown, USGS

This harmless serpent lives in inland California, where it burrows in the ground by day and hunts rodents and small birds by night.

Canebreak Rattlesnake

Canebreak Rattlesnake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Also known as timber rattlesnakes, these rattlers live in the eastern United States. They can deliver a venomous bite, but usually strike out only when threatened.

Copperhead

Copperhead

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Copperheads are pit vipers, but their venom is relatively weak. Still, it's a good idea to avoid copperhead bites: They can cause extensive scarring, tissue death and pain.

Coral Snake

Coral Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

"Red on yellow, kill a fellow..." Coral snakes pack a nasty bite, inspiring folk rhymes to help people tell them apart from their non-venomous cousins. Red bands touching yellow bands are a sign of venom in coral snakes, but only in North American species. On other continents, venomous coral snakes come in many colors and patterns.

Hog-nosed Snake

Hog-nosed Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hog-nosed snakes are known for two things: Their upturned snouts and their tendency to play possum. When threatened, the snakes will often hiss and pretend to strike. If that fails, they roll over on their backs and play dead.

Indigo Snake

Indigo Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

These harmless snakes range across the southern United States.

Night Snake, New Mexico

Night Snake, New Mexico

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The night snake lives in dry areas of western North America. Easily mistaken for a rattlesnake, the reptile is only dangerous to rodents and other prey.

Pine Woods Snake

Pine Woods Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The slender pine woods snake is also called the yellow-lipped snake because of the band of yellow stretching across its mouth.

Rat Snake (baby)

Rat Snake (baby)

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Rat snakes are docile and harmless, making them popular as pets.

Sri Lanka Alibino Cobra

Sri Lanka Alibino Cobra

Credit: AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena

Albino cobras are exotic but deadly. In February 2011, a New Jersey man nearly died when his pet albino cobra bit him.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The western diamondback can strike at a distance of half its body length -- not too shabby for a creature that can grow 4 feet (120 centimeters) long.

Wandering Garter Snake

Wandering Garter Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

These non-venomous snakes are the most common reptile in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park. They live near water and eat small rodents as well as tadpoles, snails and leeches.

Western Long-nosed Snake

Western Long-nosed Snake

Credit: Chris Brown, USGS

This tricolored serpent lives in desert habitats in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

Egyptian Cobra

Egyptian Cobra

Credit: public domain

Egyptian cobras possess a deadly venom that attacks the nervous system.

You'd Also Like

  • ‘Mystery Dinner Snake’ Found in Belly of Another Snake Finally Identified

    LiveScience
  • These Venomous Snakes Travel by Hitchhiking on Planes

    LiveScience
  • Oldest Fossil of a Baby Snake Discovered Trapped in Amber Tomb

    LiveScience
  • These Gourmet Snakes Prefer to Eat Snails

    LiveScience
previous | next

Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Found only in Florida, the Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake is threatened by waterfront development that eats into its habitat.

Broad-banded Copperhead

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The copperhead is the most common venomous snake in the Eastern United States.

Brown Tree Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The brown tree snake is venomous, but its venom is not very dangerous to adults. However, the snake has wrecked havoc on the island of Guam, where it is an invasive species. Brown tree snakes have destroyed Guam's native bird population and often cause power outages by climbing on electrical wires.

Bullsnake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Bullsnakes are sometimes mistaken for rattlesnakes, but they're nonvenomous. In fact, the snakes are important for controlling the rodent population in areas such as Nebraska.

California Glossy Snake

Credit: Chris Brown, USGS

This harmless serpent lives in inland California, where it burrows in the ground by day and hunts rodents and small birds by night.

Canebreak Rattlesnake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Also known as timber rattlesnakes, these rattlers live in the eastern United States. They can deliver a venomous bite, but usually strike out only when threatened.

Copperhead

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Copperheads are pit vipers, but their venom is relatively weak. Still, it's a good idea to avoid copperhead bites: They can cause extensive scarring, tissue death and pain.

Coral Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

"Red on yellow, kill a fellow..." Coral snakes pack a nasty bite, inspiring folk rhymes to help people tell them apart from their non-venomous cousins. Red bands touching yellow bands are a sign of venom in coral snakes, but only in North American species. On other continents, venomous coral snakes come in many colors and patterns.

Hog-nosed Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hog-nosed snakes are known for two things: Their upturned snouts and their tendency to play possum. When threatened, the snakes will often hiss and pretend to strike. If that fails, they roll over on their backs and play dead.

Indigo Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

These harmless snakes range across the southern United States.

Night Snake, New Mexico

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The night snake lives in dry areas of western North America. Easily mistaken for a rattlesnake, the reptile is only dangerous to rodents and other prey.

Pine Woods Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The slender pine woods snake is also called the yellow-lipped snake because of the band of yellow stretching across its mouth.

Rat Snake (baby)

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Rat snakes are docile and harmless, making them popular as pets.

Sri Lanka Alibino Cobra

Credit: AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena

Albino cobras are exotic but deadly. In February 2011, a New Jersey man nearly died when his pet albino cobra bit him.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The western diamondback can strike at a distance of half its body length -- not too shabby for a creature that can grow 4 feet (120 centimeters) long.

Wandering Garter Snake

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

These non-venomous snakes are the most common reptile in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park. They live near water and eat small rodents as well as tadpoles, snails and leeches.

Western Long-nosed Snake

Credit: Chris Brown, USGS

This tricolored serpent lives in desert habitats in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

Egyptian Cobra

Credit: public domain

Egyptian cobras possess a deadly venom that attacks the nervous system.

Science Newsletter: Subscribe
Follow Us
Most Popular
  1. mudlarker skull

    5,600-Year-Old Human Skull Bone Fished Out of the Thames by Lucky 'Mudlarker'

  2. Rosetta made this image of the comet as it approached

    The 'Rubber Ducky' Comet Is Stressed and Keeps Cracking Its Neck

  3. A researcher holding bags of blood.

    'Young Blood' Transfusions to Prevent Aging Are Unproven and Risky, FDA Warns

  4. Grand Canyon National Park

    In Photos: Stunning Views of Grand Canyon National Park

  5. WWII Sailor in Controversial 'The Kiss' Photo Dies at 95

HomeAbout Us
Company
  • Company Info
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Using Our Content
  • Licensing & Reprints
  • Terms of Use
  • Copyright Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Network
  • Top Ten Reviews
  • Tom's Guide
  • Laptop Mag
  • Tom's Hardware
  • Space.com
  • Live Science
  • AnandTech
  • Dignifyed
FOLLOW US
Subscribe
Purch

Copyright © All Rights Reserved.