Kentucky Snake Identification
Kentucky Snake Identification

ID Your Snake

ID Your Snake

ID Your Snake

Characteristic Descriptions

Pupil

In Kentucky, the black part in the center of the eye (pupil) of harmless snakes is round. Venomous snakes have egg-shaped or cat-like (elliptical) pupils.

Example images of the different pupil shapes in snakes (round/non-vertical and vertical)

Head Shape

Venomous snakes usually have a triangular (wide at the back and attached to a narrow neck) or 'spade-shaped' head. Be aware that many non-venomous snakes, such as watersnakes, flatten their heads when threatened and may be confused with venomous snakes.

Example of the different head shapes in snakes in Kentucky

Example of the different head shapes in snakes in Kentucky

Kentucky’s snake species exhibit wide variability in body shape. Some species are thick, stocky and heavy-bodied for their length; these snakes include our pit viper species, eastern hognose snakes, some of the watersnakes and others. Other species are usually slender for their length. Slender species include rough greensnakes, several of the woodland snakes (wormsnakes, ringneck snakes, red-bellied snakes), black racers and ribbonsnakes. While body shapes are often generalizable for a given species, occasionally snake species deviate from their typical shapes. For example, it is not uncommon to find slender or moderately-shaped northern watersnakes. It is best to use body shape in association with other characteristics to identify your snake.

Examples of the different body types of Kentucky's snake species

Filter Snakes

Describes the primary shape of the snakes head.
Describes the primary shape of the snakes pupil.
Indicates whether the snake has a facial pit (only in vipers).
Describes the overall shape of the snakes body.
Describes the primary markings/patterns on the back of the snake.
Describes the primary markings/patterns on the belly of the snake.
Back Coloring
Describes the primary coloring present on the back of the snake.
Belly Coloring
Describes the primary coloring present on the belly of the snake.

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Nerodia fasciata Broad-banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata)
Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Common or Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) Common or Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
Common Wormsnake (Carphophis ameonus) Common Wormsnake (Carphophis ameonus)
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)
Diamond-backed Watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer) Diamond-backed Watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer)
Eastern Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis nigra) Eastern Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis nigra)
Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus)
Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides)
Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii)
Mississippi Green Watersnake (Nerodia cyclopion) Mississippi Green Watersnake (Nerodia cyclopion)
North American Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) North American Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)
Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)
Pinesnake (Pituophis melanoleucus) Pinesnake (Pituophis melanoleucus)
Plainbelly Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster) Plainbelly Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) Queensnake (Regina septemvittata)
Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus)
Red-bellied Mudsnake (Farancia abacura) Red-bellied Mudsnake (Farancia abacura)
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)
Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)
Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus)
Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides) Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)
Scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea) Scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea)
Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae) Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae)
Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata) Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata)
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Western Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus) Western Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus)
Yellow-bellied or Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster) Yellow-bellied or Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster)