Types of Snakes With Pictures: You Should Totally Bookmark This!

Do the cold, creepy crawlers called snakes interest you? If yes, then let's quietly slither our way through some interesting information on the types of snakes along with some amazing pictures of these fascinating reptiles.

Rajib Singha

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2018

Snake -- a messenger of doom for the uninformed; on the flip side, one of the most magnificent wonders of nature. From ancient myths and folklore to documentaries and motion pictures, snakes have always been a much talked-about phenomenon and a strong center of attention for reptile enthusiasts.

These cold-blooded creatures not only don an air of mystery and uncertainty in their appearance, but their very existence remains an unsolved puzzle. As many as 2900 species of serpents are known to wriggle in every corner on the Earth, except for Antarctica.

For most, these many snakes could only mean a cauldron of deadly venom. But believe it or not, most types of snakes are non-venomous. Furthermore, snakes that possess venom use it to kill and subdue their preys and less commonly for self-defense.

Different Types of Snakes with Their Pictures

Let's take a look at the different families of snakes and understand a few basic facts about them.

Elapidae (Elapids)

The Elapidae family comprises the most venomous species of snakes in the world. These snakes (elapids) are mostly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. An important characteristic feature of the elapids is their fixed, hollow fangs, which are used to inject venom. Their venom is neurotoxic, which causes severe damage to nervous tissues, and thus it can be potentially deadly.

Some popular snake species in the Elapidae family are:

Black Mamba
Indian Cobra
King Cobra
Cape Cobra
Green Mamba
Egyptian Cobra
Red Spitting Cobra
Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Inland Taipan (the most venomous land snake in the world)

King Cobra

Scientific Name: Ophiophagus hannah

Black Mamba

Scientific Name: Dendroaspis polylepis

Eastern Green Mamba

Scientific Name: Dendroaspis angusticeps

Western Green Mamba

Scientific Name: Dendroaspis viridis

Red Spitting Cobra

Scientific Name: Naja pallida

Indian Cobra

Scientific Name: Naja naja

Cape Cobra

Scientific Name: Naja nivea

Egyptian Cobra

Scientific Name: Naja haje

Mozambique Spitting Cobra

Scientific Name: Naja mossambica

Texas Coral Snake

Scientific Name: Micrurus tener

Red-bellied Black Snake

Scientific Name: Pseudechis porphyriacus

Snouted Cobra

Scientific Name: Naja haje annulifera

Viperidae (Vipers)

The important family of venomous snakes is Viperidae. Snakes in this family (vipers) are known for their long, hinged hollow fangs. Unlike the elapids, which have fixed fangs, the vipers have fangs that can retract and extend. When inactive, these fangs stay folded back against the roof of the snake's mouth. When the mouth opens, the fangs extend and get into a biting position.

Commonly known vipers include:

Copperheads
Rattlesnakes
Water Moccasin
Bushmaster
Russell's Viper
Saw-scaled Viper
Temple Viper
Gaboon Viper
Rhinoceros Viper

Copperhead

Scientific Name: Agkistrodon contortrix

Water Moccasin

Scientific Name: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Red Diamond Rattlesnake

Scientific Name: Crotalus ruber

Rough-scaled Bush Viper

Scientific Name: Atheris hispida

Common European Adder

Scientific Name: Vipera berus

Puff Adder

Scientific Name: Bitis arietans

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Scientific Name: Crotalus atrox

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Scientific Name: Crotalus adamanteus

Timber Rattlesnake

Scientific Name: Crotalus horridus

Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Scientific Name: Crotalus molossus

Gaboon Viper

Scientific Name: Bitis gabonica

Rhinoceros Viper

Scientific Name: Bitis nasicornis

South American Bushmaster

Scientific Name: Lachesis muta

Eyelash Viper

Scientific Name: Bothriechis schlegelii

Temple Pit Viper

Scientific Name: Tropidolaemus wagleri

Mojave Rattlesnake

Scientific Name: Crotalus scutulatus

Pacific Rattlesnake

Scientific Name: Crotalus oreganus

Colubridae (Colubrids)

The Colubridae family comprises snakes (colubrids), most of which are non-venomous or possess venom that is too weak to cause any harm to human life. However, there are some exceptions, such as the boomslang and twig snake, whose bites have been reported to cause fatalities. Colubrids have their fangs located not at the front of the mouth but angled at the back. Hence, they are also noted as rear-fanged snakes. Unlike the elapids and vipers, the fangs of the colubrids are not hollow, but simply grooved to channel the venom when a bite is laid.

The family of colubrids is known as the largest family of snakes, some common examples of which include:

Scarlet Snake
Corn Snake
Desert Kingsnake
California Kingsnake
Western Coachwhip
Rough Green Snake
Ribbon Snake
Red Milk Snake
Grey-banded Kingsnake
King Ratsnake
Baird's Rat Snake
Black Rat Snake

Southern Black Racer

Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor priapus

Banded Water Snake

Scientific Name: Nerodia fasciata

Corn Snake

Scientific Name: Pantherophis guttatus

Desert Kingsnake

Scientific Name: Lampropeltis getula splendida

California Kingsnake

Scientific Name: Lampropeltis getula californiae

Western Coachwhip

Scientific Name: Masticophis flagellum testaceus

Rough Green Snake

Scientific Name: Opheodrys aestivus

Western Hognose Snake

Scientific Name: Heterodon nasicus

Coast Garter Snake

Scientific Name: Thamnophis elegans terrestris

Common Garter Snake

Scientific Name: Thamnophis sirtalis

Blue-striped Ribbon Snake

Scientific Name: Thamnophis sauritus nitae

Red Milk Snake

Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum syspila

Grey-banded Kingsnake

Scientific Name: Lampropeltis alterna

Pacific Gopher Snake

Scientific Name: Pituophis catenifer

Baird's Rat Snake

Scientific Name: Pantherophis bairdi

Black Rat Snake

Scientific Name: Pantherophis obsoletus

Everglades Rat Snake

Scientific Name: Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni

Red-tailed Green Ratsnake

Scientific Name: Gonyosoma oxycephalum

Bull Snake

Scientific Name: Pituophis catenifer sayi

Taiwanese Beauty Rat Snake

Scientific Name: Orthriophis taeniura friesei

Flatbread Snake

Scientific Name: Oxybelis fulgidus

Speckled Kingsnake

Scientific Name: Lampropeltis getula holbrooki

Texas Indigo Snake

Scientific Name: Drymarchon melanurus erebennus

Green Vine Snake

Scientific Name: Ahaetulla nasuta

Brown Vine Snake

Scientific Name: Oxybelis aeneus

Tiger Snake

Scientific Name: Telescopus semiannulatus

Yellow Rat Snake

Scientific Name: Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata

Boomslang

Scientific Name: Dispholidus typus

Boidae

This family comprises non-venomous but big and powerful constrictors, which can swallow a fully-grown buck apart from other large animals! These snakes rely on their strength to suffocate their prey, unlike the venomous ones which use venom as their primary weapon. They do not have fangs but rows of teeth in their upper and lower jaws. It is quite interesting to know how these large reptiles kill their preys. When they coil around their prey, they seem to tighten their grip every time the prey breathes out. Furthermore, they also know when it's time to stop working on their "death-squeeze." Scientists say, snakes can sense their prey's heartbeat and let go when it stops.

Some popular examples of Boidae family include:

Anaconda
Emerald Tree Boa
Rosy Boa
Yellow Snake

Anaconda

Scientific Name: Eunectes murinus

Rosy Boa

Scientific Name: Lichanura trivirgata

Emerald Tree Boa

Scientific Name: Corallus caninus

Yellow Snake (Jamaican Boa)

Scientific Name: Epicrates subflavus

Pythonidae

Similar to the Boidae family, the Pythonidae family also comprises large non-venomous snakes, which kill their prey by constriction. Most people easily confuse between pythons and boas. While they are similar-looking and have almost the same feeding habits, there are certain characteristic features that set them apart. Pythons are oviparous or egg-laying reptiles, while most boas give birth to live young (ovoviviparous) ones.

The geographical distribution of pythons is different from or less extensive than that of boas. Common examples of pythons include:

Reticulated Python
Burmese Python
The African Rock Python
Green Tree Python
White-lipped Python
Ball Python
Carpet Python

Reticulated Python

Scientific Name: Python reticulatus

Burmese Python

Scientific Name: Python molurus bivittatus

African Rock Python

Scientific Name: Python sebae

Green Tree Python

Scientific Name: Morelia viridis

Ball Python

Scientific Name: Python regius

Hydrophiidae

Hydrophiidae could be a subfamily of Elapidae according to some taxonomists. The family comprises sea snakes, which are extremely venomous but account for rare human encounters. Their venom contains neurotoxins and mycotoxins and is considered to be more potent than land snakes. This family again could be subdivided into the Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae. Note that the association of Hydrophiidae to Elapidae is an inconclusive subject.

Some taxonomists consider it to be a subfamily of the Elapidae, while some continue regarding it as a different species of venomous snakes altogether. Common examples in this family include:

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
The Arabian Gulf Sea Snake

Although non-venomous snakes are harmless, even venomous snakes pose no threat to human beings, unless they are provoked. In fact, all creatures in the animal kingdom do not bear any grudge against mankind. If we give them their space and let them be, they do not have any reason to reciprocate this feeling!