Snake images

Description Eastern rat snakes, formerly known as black rat snakes, are large non-venomous snakes between 3.5 and 7 feet (one and two meters) long. They have shiny black scales on their back and a light colored belly, and their throat and chin are white. The head of an eastern rat snake is wider than the neck and the rest of the body. Life History The typical breeding season for this snake is from May to late June. During this time, male snakes search for females and will fight one another for the right to mate with a female. A female will lay between six and two dozen eggs, usually in late July. The eggs may take between five and seven weeks to develop and hatch. Hatchlings will stay near their hatching site for up to two years. Conservation The eastern rat snake’s population is considered stable. However, these snakes are often mistreated by humans who are frightened of them. Although eastern rat snakes do not usually attack when threatened, there have been extreme cases of eastern rat snakes charging at predators. Despite making occasional appearances throughout the summer, eastern rat snakes are actually very shy and at the sight of danger will either freeze or slither away. Eastern rat snakes also produce a strong foul odor when scared to deter predators and humans.

Identifying snakes can be tricky. Many species have similar qualities and can be hard to tell apart without practice. There are 38 species of snakes native to North Carolina. It’s unlikely that you’ll see all of them, but certain species are prevalent throughout the state, even in residential areas. We’re here to help you identify North Carolina snakes! You’ll discover the basics of identifying the most dangerous and most common species in the state. Find out why snakes are essential to have around and how you can safely coexist with them. We provide you with contacts and useful resources at the end of this guide. In This Article • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Looking at pictures of a snake and seeing one in the wild are surprisingly different. It’s not uncommon for snakes of different species or families to have similar features. You’ll also find individuals within the same species that look entirely unrelated. Many snakes’ appearances vary based on This guide is only for snakes found in North Carolina. Even with our help, you should always be cautious when encountering a snake in the wild. There are six venomous snake species in North Carolina. They belong to two different families, Elapids and Vipers. There are a few ways of quickly identifying these venomous species. Unfortunately, many harmless species look similar to venomous ones. Even for those with experience, they can be difficult to distinguish. You can never be too careful. The best action is to take cauti...

California snakes range in form from yellow snakes to drab gray or brown species. The variable ground snake is just one of the many species in California. Image credit: smashtonlee05 (via CreativeCommons.org) The giant garter snake is a rare species, but also the longest in California. Image credit: u/Lego_C3PO (via Reddit.com) Some of them are venomous and others are harmless. They range from the useful gopher snakes which control rodent populations to the rattlesnakes with their distinctive rattling sound. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at: • The most common species in the area • How to react when you discover a snake • How to identify the venomous snakes in the area • The basics of identifying California herps (snakes and reptiles) We’ll also share a set of useful resources at the end of the article. Let’s get into it. In This Article • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Whether you’re identifying California snakes, lizards, or frogs there are a few major criteria that can help you find out what you’ve seen. Below, we’ll discuss each of these identification tools, and the process for identifying these animals. Length Length is one of the most defining characteristics when you’re identifying snakes. Most species average at a certain length. A California kingsnake doesn’t reach lengths anywhere near that of the red racer. Even before you’ve looked at a snake’s coloration, you could determine that a six-foot-long snake isn’t a Californ...

Georgia is home to many species of snakes. There are 40 species of non venomous snakes in the state. There are just 6 that are both venomous and dangerous to humans. We will go over the nonvenomous snakes first before moving on to the venomous species. We hope this helps you learn what snakes may live near you. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Non venomous snakes All of these snakes are considered harmless to humans. Most lack venom entirely, but a few species have venom that can’t harm a human. At worst snake bites may cause swelling and pain at the site of the bite. Never handle a wild snake and be careful if you are walking in areas that may have a snake. Many species will hide under leaf litter. If you step on a snake you didn’t see, it may bite you in self-defense. Eastern Green Water Snake The Eastern green water snake ( These snakes are between 30 and 55 inches long as adults. They are a solid greenish-brown as adults with a light belly. Juveniles have dark bars that fade with age. Nerodia genus are rarely found far from water. They prefer still water like lakes, swamps, marshes, and very slow rivers. These snakes are diurnal and primarily eat aquatic prey such as amphibians and fish. Brown Water snake The brown water snake ( Nerodia taxispilota) is found over much of Georgia aside from the north of the state. This non venomous snake is easily confused for the venomous Brown water snakes are typically li...

• Menu Toggle • Ferret • Mantis • Menu Toggle • African Fat-Tailed Gecko • Anole • Ball Python • Bearded Dragon • Blue Tongue Skink • Chameleon • Chinese Water Dragon • Corn Snake • Crested Gecko • Iguana • Leopard Gecko • Tortoise • Turtle • Menu Toggle • Pacman Frog • Pixie Frog • White Tree Frog • Tree Frogs • Menu Toggle • Bird • Mammal • Invertebrate • Fish • Plant • Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Types of Black Snakes The following species are known for their mostly black coloring. These species are common throughout the country. 1. North American Racer Scientific name: Coluber constrictor Venomous:No The North American Racer is also known as the Racer snake, Black Racer, and South American racer. Its natural habitat includes Southern parts of the country expanding to the Midwest. North American Racer These snakes are highly common around forests and North American Racers are a type of all-black snake. They have a black body and a blackhead. Further characterization includes smooth boy scales that almost don’t look separated from each other. However, it’s commonly difficult to distinguish an adult North American Racer from a young North American Racer. Young members of the genus have a gray body with red and light color markings looking almost like a completely different species. Many young North American Racers are confused with the highly dangerous and venomous Pygmy rattlesnake as a result. The species gets its name from its capacity to cons...

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Description Eastern rat snakes, formerly known as black rat snakes, are large non-venomous snakes between 3.5 and 7 feet (one and two meters) long. They have shiny black scales on their back and a light colored belly, and their throat and chin are white. The head of an eastern rat snake is wider than the neck and the rest of the body. Life History The typical breeding season for this snake is from May to late June. During this time, male snakes search for females and will fight one another for the right to mate with a female. A female will lay between six and two dozen eggs, usually in late July. The eggs may take between five and seven weeks to develop and hatch. Hatchlings will stay near their hatching site for up to two years. Conservation The eastern rat snake’s population is considered stable. However, these snakes are often mistreated by humans who are frightened of them. Although eastern rat snakes do not usually attack when threatened, there have been extreme cases of eastern rat snakes charging at predators. Despite making occasional appearances throughout the summer, eastern rat snakes are actually very shy and at the sight of danger will either freeze or slither away. Eastern rat snakes also produce a strong foul odor when scared to deter predators and humans.

Georgia is home to many species of snakes. There are 40 species of non venomous snakes in the state. There are just 6 that are both venomous and dangerous to humans. We will go over the nonvenomous snakes first before moving on to the venomous species. We hope this helps you learn what snakes may live near you. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Non venomous snakes All of these snakes are considered harmless to humans. Most lack venom entirely, but a few species have venom that can’t harm a human. At worst snake bites may cause swelling and pain at the site of the bite. Never handle a wild snake and be careful if you are walking in areas that may have a snake. Many species will hide under leaf litter. If you step on a snake you didn’t see, it may bite you in self-defense. Eastern Green Water Snake The Eastern green water snake ( These snakes are between 30 and 55 inches long as adults. They are a solid greenish-brown as adults with a light belly. Juveniles have dark bars that fade with age. Nerodia genus are rarely found far from water. They prefer still water like lakes, swamps, marshes, and very slow rivers. These snakes are diurnal and primarily eat aquatic prey such as amphibians and fish. Brown Water snake The brown water snake ( Nerodia taxispilota) is found over much of Georgia aside from the north of the state. This non venomous snake is easily confused for the venomous Brown water snakes are typically li...

Identifying snakes can be tricky. Many species have similar qualities and can be hard to tell apart without practice. There are 38 species of snakes native to North Carolina. It’s unlikely that you’ll see all of them, but certain species are prevalent throughout the state, even in residential areas. We’re here to help you identify North Carolina snakes! You’ll discover the basics of identifying the most dangerous and most common species in the state. Find out why snakes are essential to have around and how you can safely coexist with them. We provide you with contacts and useful resources at the end of this guide. In This Article • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Looking at pictures of a snake and seeing one in the wild are surprisingly different. It’s not uncommon for snakes of different species or families to have similar features. You’ll also find individuals within the same species that look entirely unrelated. Many snakes’ appearances vary based on This guide is only for snakes found in North Carolina. Even with our help, you should always be cautious when encountering a snake in the wild. There are six venomous snake species in North Carolina. They belong to two different families, Elapids and Vipers. There are a few ways of quickly identifying these venomous species. Unfortunately, many harmless species look similar to venomous ones. Even for those with experience, they can be difficult to distinguish. You can never be too careful. The best action is to take cauti...

• Back • What's On • Everything • Exhibitions • Kids at the Museum • Members only events • School holidays • Special events • Talks and screenings • Tours and workshops • Members events • Touring exhibitions • Exhibition virtual tours • Audio guides of exhibitions • School programs and excursions Close Navigation • Admission information • Accessibility and inclusion • Membership • Location and access • Parking and public transport • Food and dining • Museum Shop • Education and group bookings submenu • Back • Education and group bookings • Overview • Vacation care groups • Tourism trade • Primary and secondary school excursions • Tertiary groups • Early years and preschool groups • Adult community groups Close Navigation • Multilingual visit information • Australian Museum venue hire • Australian Museum Visitor Map • Audio guides of exhibitions • Visitor safety during COVID-19 Close Navigation • Back • Natural Sciences collection areas • Overview • Arachnology • Entomology • Herpetology • Ichthyology • Malacology • Mammalogy • Marine Invertebrates • Mineralogy • Ornithology • Palaeontology • Frozen Tissue collection Close Navigation • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collection • Pacific Collection • World Cultures Collection • Museum Archives and Research Library submenu • Back • Museum Archives and Research Library • Overview • Museum Archives • Research Library • Photographic collections • The Scott sisters collection • John Gould: books and illustrations Close Nav...