Welcome to Catnapin's

Reptile Gallery

Snakes

order Squamata - suborder Serpentes

family Colubridae - subfamily Colubrinae

Western Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum testaceus

Very common, nonvenomous, long and agile.  When cornered it will bite, striking face instead of a hand.

Head is darker than body.  Color varies to match environment, darker in woody area, light in rocky areas, red-pink in the Trans Pecos.

Photos taken in Taylor County, June 2006

(Native of Texas)

family Colubridae - subfamily Lampropeltinae

Texas Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta lindheimerii

Nonvenomous, good climber.  When cornered it will often bluff strike, emit musk, then bite (will only scratch).

Young are gray, brown in adults, and continue to darken as they age.

Photos taken in Taylor County, June 2004, October 2006

Baby snake was about 14" long.  Photos taken in Taylor County, November 2006

(Native of Texas)

family Colubridae - subfamily Lampropeltinae

Bull Snake (Gopher Snake) Pituophis melanoleucus

Light brown head.  Body has large dark  and smaller light bands on top; sides are spotted; underneath is pale.  This snake is often mistaken for a rattlesnake because it hisses and shakes its tail in dry grass to produce a rattle.  It constricts its prey.  Non-venomous. In the northern version, Pine Snake, the snake is much darker and less brown.  Head is not solid light brown but has small lines.  Body has large, widely spaced dark brownish-gray rectangles (can be solid) with lighter base color.  Side dots are irregular.

Photo taken in Taylor County, April 2005

(Native of Texas)

family Viperidae (Viper)

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox

Large diamond pattern: medium brown diamond with dark then light stripes around it.  Rattles on the tail.  Can strike several feet from a coiled or stretched position.  Venomous.

Photo taken in Taylor County, May 2008

(Native of Texas)

Other Species Found in My Area

family Colubridae - subfamily Colubrinae

Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer Coluber constrictor flaviventris

Central Texas Whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus girardi

Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus

family Colubridae - subfamily Lampropeltinae

Kansas Glossy Snake Arizona elegans elegans

Great Plains Rat Snake Elaphe emoryi

Desert Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula splendida

Mexican Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum annulata

Texas Long-nosed Snake Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus

family Colubridae - subfamily Natricinae

Blotched Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster transversa

Diamond-backed Water Snake Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer

Graham's Crayfish Snake Regina grahamii

Texas Brown Snake Storeria dekayi texana

Checkered Garter Snake Thamnophis marcianus marcianus

Red-striped Ribbon Snake Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus

Texas Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis annectens

Lined Snake Tropidoclonion lineatum

Rough Earth Snake Virginia striatula

family Colubridae - subfamily Xenodontinae

Prairie Ring-neck Snake Diadophis punctatus arnyi

Regal Ring-neck Snake Diadophis punctatus regalis

Western Hook-nosed Snake Gyalopion canum

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake Heterodon platirhinos

Dusty Hog-nosed Snake Heterodon nasicus gloydi

Texas Night Snake Hypsiglena torquata jani

Ground Snake Sonora semiannulata

Flat-headed Snake Tantilla gracilis

Southwestern Black-headed Snake Tantilla hobartsmithi

Plains Black-headed Snake Tantilla nigriceps

family Viperidae (Viper)

Broad-banded Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus

Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma

Prairie Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis viridis

Desert Massasauga Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii

Western Massasauga Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus