Types of Snakes: 176 Species of Snakes with Amazing Facts
Snakes, existing for millions of years, are predatory creatures with approximately 3,000 species distributed across every continent except Antarctica. While they are often feared for their potential danger, they also captivate the interest of many. Snakes primarily feed on other animals, exhibiting a carnivorous diet that includes rodents, birds, lizards, and occasionally, other snakes, depending on their species.
Types of Snakes
What Are Snakes?
Snakes are legless reptiles with elongated bodies and tapering tails, covered in scales that provide protection from both predators and the environment. They inhabit diverse habitats such as deserts, rainforests, and grasslands. While some snakes are venomous, most species pose no threat to humans.
In their locomotion, snakes utilize a sinuous, undulating motion, enabling them to traverse various terrains including sand, rocks, and water. Certain species are adept climbers, capable of scaling trees and other vertical surfaces. They rely on robust muscles for propulsion and their scales aid in gripping surfaces during movement.
Contrary to popular belief, snakes cannot dislocate their jaws. Instead, their lower jaw is attached to the upper jaw by ligaments, allowing them to open their mouths wide enough to consume prey larger than their heads.
Different Types of Snakes
- Aesculapian Snake
- Adder
- Anaconda
- Banded Sea Krait
- Boa Constrictor
- Brown Tree Snake
- Burmese Python
- Cobra
- Copperhead
- Coral Snake
- Corn Snake
- Cottonmouth
- Death Adder
- Eastern Brown Snake
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Gaboon Viper
- Kingsnake
- Garter snake
- Mamba
- Mohave Rattlesnake
- Pit Viper
- Prairie Rattlesnake
- Python
- Rattlesnake
- Sidewinder
- Southern Copperhead
- Tiger Snake
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Wheatland Viper
- White-lipped Python
- Dumeril’s Boa
- California Kingsnake
- Texas Rat Snake
- Amazon Tree Boa
- Arabian Sand Boa
- Banded Water Snake
- Black Mamba
- Black Rat Snake
- Blood Python
- Boomslang
- Brown Water Snake
- Bullsnake
- Bushmaster
- Cape Cobra
- Central Ranges Taipan
- Children’s Python
- Chinese Cobra
- Dragon Snake
- Eastern Green Mamba
- Eastern Indigo Snake
- European Cat Snake
- Eyelash Viper
- Fox Snake
- Gigantophis
- Golden Lancehead
- Gopher Snake
- Grass Snake
- Horned Viper
- Indian Cobra
- King Cobra
- Mamushi
- Mangrove Snake
- Massasauga Rattlesnake
- Mexican Black Kingsnake
- Mojave Rattlesnake
- Northern Water Snake
- Olive Python
- Puff Adder
- Red-Bellied Snake
- Reticulated Python
- Ringneck Snake
- Rough Earth Snake
- Russel’s Viper
- Southern Black Racer
- Titano Boa
- Western Hognose Snake
- Worm Snake
- Yellow Anaconda
- African Rock Python
- Baird’s Rat Snake
- Baja California Rat Snake
- Ball Python
- Banded Sand Snake
- Black-Headed Python
- Black-Striped Snake
- Blue Krait
- Blue Racer
- Common Garter Snake
- Eastern Racer
- Milk Snake
- Eastern Hognose Snake
- Common Watersnake
- Ring-Necked Snake
- Common Kingsnake
- Common European Viper
- Dekay’s Brownsnake
- Ribbon Snake
- Smooth Green Snake
- Pine Snake
- Eastern Rat Snake
- Inland Taipan
- Queen Snake
- Yellow-Bellied Kingsnake
- Rough Green Snake
- Redbelly Snake
- Coastal Taipan
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
- Smooth Snake
- Carpet Python
- Slow Worm
- Black Swamp Snake
- Arizona Milk Snake
- Glossy Snake
- Desert King Snake
- Blackneck Garter Snake
- Sonoran Gopher Snake
- Southwestern Blackhead Snake
- Western Shovelnose Snake
- Night Snake
- Mexican Vine Snake
- Lyre Snake
- Mountain King Snake
- Patch-Nosed Snake
- Black-Neck Garter Snake
- Blind Snake
- Checkered Garter Snake
- Coachwhip Snake
- Common King Snake
- King Snake
- Ground Snake
- Desert Rosy Boa Snake
- Saddled Leafnose Snake
- Spotted Leafnose Snake
- Long-Nosed Snake
- Tropical Vine Snake
- Grand Canyon Rattlesnake
- Arizona Black Rattlesnake
- Great Basin Rattlesnake
- Tiger Rattlesnake
- Northern Blacktail Rattlesnake
- Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
- Speckled Rattlesnake
- Twin-Spotted Rattlesnake
- Fer-De-Lance
- Eastern Tiger Snake
- Saw-Scaled Viper
- Banded Krait
- Santa Catalina Rattlesnake
- Rock Rattlesnake
- Black-Tailed Rattlesnake
- Pacific Rattlesnake
- Red Diamond Rattlesnake
- Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
- Pygmy Rattlesnake
- Egyptian Cobra
- Red Spitting Cobra
- Mozambique Spitting Cobra
- Russell’s Viper
- Temple Viper
- Rhinoceros Viper
- Scarlet Snake
- Desert Kingsnake
- Western Coachwhip
- Red Milk Snake
- Grey-Banded Kingsnake
- King Ratsnake
- Belcher’s Sea Snake
- Spiny-Headed Sea Snake
- Olive Sea Snake
- Spiny-Tailed Sea Snake
- Turtlehead Sea Snake
- Beaked Sea Snake
- Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
- Yellow-Lipped Sea Krait
- Arabian Gulf Sea Snake
Common Types of Snakes with Facts
There are various types of snakes, broadly categorized into venomous and non-venomous groups. Venomous snakes possess specialized glands that produce venom, which they inject into their prey or predators through their fangs. Non-venomous snakes, on the other hand, subdue their prey by constricting and suffocating them. Some common types of snakes include:
Cobra
Cobras, found in tropical regions, are venomous and can reach lengths of up to 5 meters. They are considered highly dangerous.
Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictors, non-venomous snakes found in South and Central American rainforests, can grow up to 4 meters long and come in brown or green varieties.
Python
Non-venomous pythons, prevalent in tropical areas, can reach lengths of up to 7 meters. They are known for their constricting abilities.
Aesculapian
Snake Also known as the European milk snake or Aesculapian keelback, these non-venomous reptiles are native to Europe, growing up to 1.8 meters in length. They typically have brown or black coloring with a white or cream-colored stripe along their backs.
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes, found in North America, are venomous and have a distinctive rattle that they use to warn predators or prey. They can grow up to 1.5 meters long.
Despite their fearsome reputation, snakes are intriguing creatures that often captivate the interest of many people due to their unique characteristics and diverse species.
