Snakes in Mississippi
Mississippi has around fifty snake species living here, with seven being venomous. The eastern diamondback and timber rattlesnake are the most dangerous ones, their bite causing fatalities to humans.
The timber rattlesnake thrives throughout Mississippi, inhabiting forest regions, agricultural fields, swampy areas, and river bottoms. On the other hand, though found sparsely here, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake dwells in one-third of the southern belt. However, the copperheads and cottonmouths are the most encountered snakes in almost the whole Mississippi.
The eastern indig0o found in Mississippi’s southeastern corner is the state’s largest, around 108 inches in length.
| Group | Venomous | Non-venomous |
|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnakes | Western Pygmy Rattlesnake Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake Timber Rattlesnake Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake | – |
| Pit Vipers | Southern Copperhead Western Cottonmouth Snake Northern Cottonmouth Snake | – |
| Coral Snakes | Eastern Coral Snake | – |
| Whip Snakes | – | Eastern Coachwhip Snake |
| Water Snakes | – | Mississippi Green Water Snake Yellow-bellied Water Snake Broad Banded Water Snake Banded Water Snake Diamond-backed Water Snake Midland Water Snake Gulf Salt Marsh Snake |
| Kingsnakes | – | Prairie Kingsnake Mole Kingsnake Peninsula Kingsnake Speckled Kingsnake Black Kingsnake |
| Hognose Snakes | – | Eastern Hognose Snake Southern Hognose Snake |
| Garter Snakes | – | Western Ribbon Snake Eastern Ribbon Snake Eastern Garter Snake |
| Carphophis | – | Midwestern Worm Snake |
| Cemophora | – | Northern Scarlet Snake |
| Liodytes | – | Delta Glossy Swamp Snake |
| Coluber | – | Black-masked Racer Southern Black Racer |
| Virginia | – | Western Smooth Earth Snake Eastern Smooth Earth Snake |
| Opheodrys | – | Rough Green Snake |
| Regina | – | Queen Snake Graham’s Crayfish Snake |
| Storeria | – | Florida Red-bellied Snake Northern Red-bellied Snake DeKay’s Brownsnake |
| Pantherophis | – | Black Rat Snake Gray Rat Snake Corn Snake Rough Earth Snake |
| Drymarchon | — | Eastern Indigo Snake |
| Farancia | – | Rainbow Snake Western Mud Snake |
| Diadophis | – | Mississippi Ring-necked Snake |
| Tantilla | – | Southeastern Crown Snake |
Rhadinaea | – | Pine Woods Snake |
| Pituophis | – | Black Pine Snake |
Snakes by Colors and Patterns
Black Snakes: Black Rat Snake, Black Pine Snake, Black Kingsnake, Southern Black Racer
Brown Snakes: DeKay’s Brownsnake, Eastern Garter Snake, Prairie Kingsnake
Snakes by Regions
Snakes in Northern Mississippi: Northern Red-bellied Snake, Queen Snake, Graham’s Crayfish Snake
Snakes in Southern Mississippi: Eastern Coral Snake, Mississippi Ring-necked Snake, Northern Red-bellied Snake, Eastern Indigo Snake
Snakes in Eastern Mississippi: Southeastern Crowned Snake
Snakes in Western Mississippi: Western Pygmy Rattlesnake, Graham’s Crayfish Snake
Quick Information
Biggest Snake: Eastern Indigo
Most Dangerous Snakes: Easter Diamondback Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake
