Snakes

Arizona elegans Glossy Snake Bogertophis rosaliaeBaja California Rat Snake Bogertophis subocularisTrans-Pecos Rat Snake Carphophis amoenus Worm Snake Cemophora coccinea Scarlet Snake Chilomeniscus cinctus Banded Sand Snake Chionactis occipitalis Western Shovelnose Snake Chionactis palarostris Sonoran Shovelnose Snake Clonophis kirtlandii Kirtland's Snake Coluber constrictor Racer Coniophanes imperialis Black-striped Snake Contia tenuis Sharptail Snake Diadophis punctatus Ringneck Snake Drymarchon corais Indigo Snake Drymobius margaritiferus Speckled Racer Elaphe bairdii Baird's Rat Snake Elaphe emoryi Emory's Rat Snake Elaphe guttata Corn Snake Elaphe obsoletaCommon Rat Snake Elaphe slowinskii Slowinski's Corn Snake Elaphe vulpina Fox Snake Farancia abacura Mud Snake Farancia erytrogramma Rainbow Snake Ficimia streckeriMexican Hooknose Snake Gyalopion canum Western Hooknose Snake Gyalopion quadrangulare Desert Hooknose Snake Heterodon nasicus Western Hognose Snake Heterodon platirhinos Eastern Hognose Snake | Picture 2 Heterodon simus Southern Hognose Snake Hypsiglena torquata Night Snake Lampropeltis alterna Gray-banded Kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster Prairie Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula Common Kingsnake Lampropeltis pyromelana Sonora Mountain Kingsnake Lampropeltis triangulum Milk Snake Lampropeltis zonata California Mountain Kingsnake Leptodeira septentrionalis Cat-eyed Snake Masticophis bilineatus Sonoran Whipsnake Masticophis flagellumCoachwhip Masticophis lateralis Striped Racer Masticophis taeniatus Striped Whipsnake Nerodia clarkii Salt Marsh Snake Nerodia cyclopion Mississippi Green Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster Plainbelly Water Snake Nerodia fasciata Southern Water Snake Nerodia floridana Florida Green Water Snake Nerodia harteri Brazos Water Snake Nerodia paucimaculata Concho Water Snake Nerodia rhombifer Diamondback Water Snake Nerodia sipedonNothern Water Snake Nerodia taxispilota Brown Water Snake Opheodrys aestivus Rough Green Snake Opheodrys vernalis Smooth Green Snake Oxybelis aeneus Mexican Vine Snake Phyllorhynchus browni Saddle Leafnose Snake Phyllorhynchus decurtatus Spotted Leafnose Snake Pituophis catenifer Gopher Snake Pituophis melanoleucus PineSnake Regina alleni Striped Crayfish Snake Regina grahamii Graham's Crayfish Snake Regina rigida Glossy Crayfish Snake Regina septemvittata Queen Snake Rhadinaea flavilata Pine Woods Snake Rhinocheilus lecontei Longnose Snake Salvadora derserticola Big Bend Patchnose Snake Salvadora grahamiae Mountain Patchnose Snake Salvadora hexalepis Western Patchnose Snake Seminatrix pygaea Black Swamp Snake Senticolis triaspis Green Rat Snake Sonora semiannulata Ground Snake Stilosoma extenuatum Short-tailed Snake Storeria dekayi Brown Snake Storeria occipitomaculata Redbelly Snake Tantilla atriceps Mexican Blackhead Snake Tantilla coronataSoutheastern Crowned Snake Tantilla gracilis Flathead Snake Tantilla hobartsmithi Southwestern Blackhead Snake Tantilla nigriceps Plains Blackhead Snake Tantilla oolitica Rim Rock Crowned Snake Tantilla planicepsWestern Blackhead Snake Tantilla relicta Florida Crowned Snake Tantilla rubra Big Bend Blackhead Snake Tantilla wilcoxi Chihuahuan Blackhead Snake Tantilla yaquia Yaqui Blackhead Snake Thamnophis atratus Santa Cruz Garter Snake Thamnophis brachystoma Shorthead Garter Snake Thamnophis butleri Butler's Garter Snake

Thamnophis couchi Western Aquatic Garter Snake Thamnophis cyrtopsis Blackneck Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis eques Mexican Garter Snake Thamnophis gigas Giant Garter Snake Thamnophis marcianus Checkered Garter Snake Thamnophis ordinoides Northwestern Garter Snake Thamnophis proximus Western Ribbon Snake Thamnophis radix Plains Garter Snake Thamnophis rufipunctatusNarrowhead Garter Snake Thamnophis sauritus Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sirtalis Common Garter Snake Trimorphodon biscutatus Lyre Snake Tropidoclonion lineatum Lined Snake Virginia striatula Rough Earth Snake Virginia valeriae Smooth Earth Snake ---- == == The cobra family is thought to have evolved from Colubrid snakes and many appear very similar in appearance with long, slender bodies and large scales (plates) on the head. They differ in having more advanced venom delivery systems than the venomous Colubrids. Elapids have fangs that are "effectively tubular" in that the fangs contain grooves that are enclosed by an infolding of the edges. The fangs are in the front of the mouth rather than the rear as is seen in venomous Colubrids. The Elapidae contains some of the world's most dangerous snakes including cobras (Naja), mambas (Dendroaspis) and sea snakes (Hydophinae and Laticaudinae). Elapids are found worldwide and in Ausralia are the predominant family. In North America, three species of elapids are found, two species of coral snakes and one sea snake. The coral snakes are relatively small snakes that spend most of their time underground. Their primary food is other snakes. Despite their small size and small fangs, their venom is extremely toxic. Micruroides euryxanthusWestern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius Eastern Coral Snake Pelamis platurus Yellowbelly Sea Snake ---- == == The vipers are generally considered to be the most advanced family of snakes since they possess a very sophisticated venom delivery system. Large tubular fangs are placed in the front of the mouth and they are hinged, allowing them to be folded back when not in use. Their heads are covered with numerous small scales and their eyes have vertically eliptical pupils. All the vipers found in North America are in the subfamily of pit vipers (Crotalinae) having a pair of heat sensing pits located between each eye and nostril. The rattlesnakes are a truly American family of pit vipers since they are not found in the Old World and all but two species are found in the U.S. or Mexico. They are divided between two genera based on their head scales. Members of the genus Crotalus have numerous small scales on their heads while members of the genus Sistrurus have large scales (plates) on their heads. Agkistrodon contortrix Copperhead Agkistrodon piscivorus Cottonmouth Crotalus adamanteus Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus cerastes Sidewinder Crotalus enyo Lower California rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus lepidus Rock Rattlesnake Crotalus mitchellii Speckled Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus Blacktail Rattlesnake Crotalus pricei Twin-spotted Rattlesnake Crotalus ruber Red Diamond Rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus Mojave Rattlesnake Crotalus tigris Tiger Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis Western Rattlesnake Crotalus willardi Ridgenose Rattlesnake Sistrurus catenatus Massasauga Sistrurus miliarius Pigmy Rattlesnake ----

There are 140 species of land snakes in Australia, and a further 32 sea snake species. There are five families of snakes found in Australia. four of these families occur on land. And several species of sea-snakes.

# Pythons # Front-fanged Venomous Snakes # Tree Snakes # Blind Snakes # Sea Snakes

There is some contention among scientists as to whether snakes in Australia go into "hibernation" or not. Because there are few places in Australia that get really cold, most snakes go into a semi-dormant state. This means that they will still come out during winter if the weather warms up enough.

Australia's winter months are June, July and August. Therefore, these are the months when snakes are less active through South Australia. Having said that, however, it is not uncommon for snakes to emerge from their inactive state in August, so is wise to be wary of snakes at all times anyway.

There are no poisonous snakes in Australia but there are many venomous ones.

There is a difference between being poisonous and being venomous. The difference is how the toxin is delivered.

Animals which are venomous inject the venom into their victims by a spur or stinger of some sort, just as some snakes inject their victims with venom via their fangs.

Animals (or plants) which are poisonous do not deliver their toxins directly. The body of the animal (or plant) tends to contain the poisonous substance within it, and they only cause harm to other organisms when they are eaten or touched.

Whilst there are around 100 species of venomous snakes in Australia, only a dozen of them have a deadly bite.

Australia's most venomous snakes include:

• Taipan (including Inland Taipan and Coastal Taipan)
• Eastern Brown
• Red Bellied Black snake
• Tiger (including Black Tiger and eastern Tiger)
• Copperhead
• Gwardar
• Collett's
• Death Adder
• Mulga Snake or King Brown