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Both species can grow to be fairly large and robust, in the five to six foot range. Rainbow Snakes have red lines down the body. The picture shows the Mud Snake, a striking black and red colored snake. Two species, the Mud Snake and Rainbow Snake live in the muddy waters of ponds, creeks, swamps and slow moving Southeast streams, and the range also extends a bit up the Mississippi River Valley. Snakes in the genus Farancia, don’t get much copy or recognition, primarily because they inhabit areas most often not inhabited by humans. They are a separate genera and fairly common in the Southeast.Ī red face and red blotches surrounded by black bands are good field identification clues. It’s easy to mistake the Scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea) for a Milksnake or Kingsnake. Virginia also is home to the Common Garter Snake.
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The Eastern Ribbon Snake has a distinct pattern on the body as well as the common stripes. Eastern Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis sauritus) share those same physical features.
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Ribbon snakes refers to a group of snakes in the genus Thamnophis, differentiated by the presence of longer tails and a light patch in front of the eye. They are very common in the Commonwealth.Įastern Hognose snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) can assume a variety of colors and are the most wide ranging of species. Both the Brown Watersnake and Plain-bellied Watersnake can be found in the southeast.īlack Racer (Coluber constrictor) is the general name for one of the most widespread of all the snakes native to the United States. The Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) extends its range throughout the state. All but one species, the Salt Marsh Snake (Nerodia clarkii) inhabit fresh water areas from small ponds to large rivers. With the exception of the Pacific Northwest, nine different species inhabit most areas of North America. While all snakes possess the ability to swim, Water Snakes (genus Nerodia) get their name because of their close association with water habitats. However, they can also fall prey to the large predatory birds such as raptors. They climb trees primarily in search of bird prey. Second, they, like other rat snakes are very good climbers. First the orange to red color explains a common nickname, red rat snake. The corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) inhabits a variety of forest areas in the center areas of Virginia. The all black body makes it a fairly easy species to recognize. The Black Rat Snake ranks as the most wide ranging of the species. Probably the corn snake is the most common of the species in the pet trade. Their large size and fairly docile manner means there’s always talk about them in the reptile trade. While many of the species have common names with rat snake included, other species are known as Corn Snakes and Fox Snakes. Their rodent diet and their propensity to inhabit areas with human populations often translated into the humans calling them rat snakes based primarily on the snake’s diet. Rat snakes are the general name given to a group of constrictors that inhabit various regions of the East and Midwest. The can grow up to on average about three feet in length and the red to orange to dull rust color of the bands makes them easy to spot.
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Finding Milk Snakes in the east can be as easy as taking a hike and flipping over a few big rocks or logs. The Yellow-bellied subspecies in Virginia is common in all areas east of the mountains.Įastern Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) are very adaptable snakes, inhabiting multiples areas from fields to forests to farms. The Scarlet and Black Kingsnakes have very small populations. Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides).Yellow-bellied Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster).Residents also look out for three additional Kingsnake species: The picture shows a face view of the Eastern Kingsnake.
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They generally have a black body with a series of thin white bands down the back. Eastern Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula), for example, are the dominant kingsnake species. Kingsnakes and Milksnakes add a nice element of diversity to the Virginia snakes list. Most people recognize their common names such as garter snakes, rat snakes and milk snakes. The remainder of this section focuses on the more common and less dangerous snakes in the colubrid family. Populations of Cottonmouth Snakes pictured, are limited to water areas of the Southeast.