Snakes in Missouri
Missouri has six venomous snakes, of which the timber rattlesnake is the most dangerous, having a widespread distribution throughout the state. The Bullsnake, Missouri’s largest, is found in scattered locations along the Ozarks in the southern and northern half. Flat-headed snake, the state’s smallest, occupies the southern portion, barring the southeastern region.
| Group | Venomous | Non-venomous |
|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnakes | Timber Rattlesnake Western Pygmy Rattlesnake Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake | – |
| Pit Vipers | Eastern Copperhead Northern Cottonmouth Western Cottonmouth | – |
| Coral Snakes | Eastern Coral Snake | – |
| Whip Snakes | – | Eastern Coachwhip Snake |
| Water Snakes | – | Mississippi Green Water Snake Yellow-bellied Water Snake Plain-bellied Watersnake Broad-banded Water Snake Diamond-backed Water Snake Northern Water Snake |
| Kingsnakes | – | Prairie Kingsnake Speckled Kingsnake Eastern Milk Snake Western Milk Snake Red Milk Snake Black Kingsnake |
| Hognose Snakes | – | Plains Hog-nosed Snake Eastern Hog-nosed Snake |
| Garter Snakes | – | Eastern Garter Snake Red-sided Garter Snake Plains Garter Snake Western Ribbon Snake |
| Carphophis | – | Western Worm Snake |
| Cemophora | – | Northern Scarlet Snake |
| Liodytes | – | Delta Glossy Swamp Snake |
| Coluber | – | Eastern Yellowbelly Racer Eastern Racer |
| Clonophis | – | Kirtland’s Snake |
| Virginia | – | Western Smooth Earth Snake Eastern Smooth Earth Snake |
| Opheodrys | – | Rough Green Snake Smooth Green Snake |
| Regina | – | Graham’s Crayfish Snake |
| Sonora | – | Western Ground Snake |
| Storeria | – | Florida Red-bellied Snake Northern Red-bellied Snake DeKay’s Brownsnake Midland Brown Snake |
| Pantherophis | – | Rough Earth Snake Western Earth Snake Great Plains Rat Snake Black Rat Snake Western Fox Snake |
| Tropidoclonion | – | Lined Snake |
| Drymarchon | – | Eastern Indigo Snake |
| Farancia | – | Western Mud Snake |
| Diadophis | – | Prairie Ring-necked Snake |
| Tantilla | – | Flat-headed Snake |
| Pituophis | – | Bullsnake |
Snakes by Colors and Patterns
Black Snakes: Black Rat Snake, Eastern Racer
Brown Snakes: DeKay’s Brownsnake, Midland Brown Snake, Eastern Garter Snake
Green Snakes: Rough Green Snake, Smooth Green Snake
Snakes by Regions
Snakes in Northern Missouri: Western Worm Snake,Kirtland’s Snake, Diamond-backed Water Snake, Smooth Green Snake
Snakes in Southern Missouri: Plain-bellied Watersnake, Great Plains Rat Snake, Northern Scarlet Snake, Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer
Quick Information
Largest Snake: Bullsnake
Smallest Snake: Flat-headed Snake
Most Dangerous Snake: Timber Rattlesnake
