Discover 12 Brown Snakes in Texas

As the 2nd biggest state in the United States and covering an amazing 268,596 square miles, Texas has a large and varied series of environments for countless animals to call home. In specific, Texas has around 100 various types of snakes, of which 14 are poisonous. Although snakes can be various colors and have various patterns on them a great deal of them are really brown. So, let’s discover a few of the brown snakes in Texas, consisting of where you’ll discover them and which ones threaten.

1. Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster)

First up we have the meadow kingsnake which is likewise often called the yellow-bellied kingsnake. Prairie kingsnakes are generally 30 to 40 inches long and have reddish brown markings over a light brown ground color. They choose to reside in locations where there is a lot of loose soil for them to burrow into, with forests and meadows being especially favoured. Prairie kingsnakes generally reside in the eastern area, although there are some little populations in the southern area. Prairie kingsnakes are not poisonous and victimize rodents, frogs, lizards, and even other snakes.

2. Broad-Banded Copperhead (Agkistrodon laticinctus)

The initially of 6 poisonous snakes on the list is the broad-banded copperhead which is 20 to 36 inches long. They have a pinkish-brown to tan body with dark brown banded markings. Broad-banded copperheads have fairly weak venom and bites from them are not normally deadly. Broad-banded copperheads were previously a subspecies of the copperhead snake however are now categorized as an independent types. However, the eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is the other copperhead types and is likewise present in Texas. Both types reside in forests and forests, however the broad-banded copperhead resides in the main and Trans-Pecos area of the state, while the eastern copperhead lives in eastern Texas.

3. Trans-Pecos Rat Snake (Bogertophis subocularis)

Another brown snake in Texas is the Trans-Pecos rat snake which just happens in the Chihuahuan desert in the Trans-Pecos area of the state. Outside of Texas these snakes are just discovered in New Mexico and in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Nuevo León in Mexico. Trans-Pecos rat snakes are 36 to 54 inches long and are a yellowish-tan color. They likewise have a series of dark brown to black H-shaped markings along their body. Trans-Pecos rat snakes are are nighttime snakes so are hardly ever seen, although when they are they are they are not normally aggressive. They are not poisonous and victim generally on little mammals.

4. Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)

The next poisonous snake is the massasauga rattlesnake of which 2 of the 3 subspecies take place in Texas. Massasaugas reside in a range of environments — consisting of swamps and meadows. The western massasauga resides in the main area of the state, while the desert massasauga happens in the western Panhandle, Trans-Pecos area, and through the lower Rio Grande Valley. Massasaugas are 24 to 30 inches long and have grey to tan colored bodies with big brown or black spots down the center of their back. They likewise have 3 smaller sized rows of areas down each side. Massasaugas consist of cytotoxic venom which, although not normally deadly, damages tissue and can cause comprehensive scarring or limb damage.

5. Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi)

One of the longest and most typical snakes in Texas is the bullsnake which reaches an enormous 8 feet long. Bullsnakes are a subspecies of the gopher snake and have actually heavy yellow-colored colored bodies which are overlaid with dark brown spots. They reside in meadows, scrubland, and fields throughout most of the state, with the exception of the eastern area and the western Trans-Pecos location. Bullsnakes are not poisonous and rather eliminate by constraint, victimizing a range of birds, lizards, and rodents. However, they do respond really strongly if they are disrupted and hiss strongly while raising their head and neck off the ground and lunging at the danger.

6. Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)

The mojave rattlesnake is 24 to 48 inches long and generally has a brown body with dark brown to black diamond-shaped markings down their back. Mojave rattlesnakes mostly reside in deserts or in open lowland areas. However, they just take place in the far western area of Texas. Mojave rattlesnakes are among the most poisonous rattlesnakes worldwide and have venom that is both neurotoxic and hemotoxic. They can be extremely aggressive and will easily strike when they are interrupted.

7. Diamond-Backed Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer)

The diamond-backed water snake is another typical brown snake in Texas. These snakes reside in slow-moving bodies of freshwater such as streams, lakes, and swamps. Diamond-backed water snakes are prevalent throughout the state and can be seen around the water. They likewise often lay on branches overhanging the water however rapidly get away back into it if they are approached. Diamond-backed water snakes are not poisonous and are not generally aggressive. They are 30 to 48 inches long and are brown with dark brown diamond-shaped markings.

8. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

The most typical poisonous snake in Texas is the western diamondback rattlesnake which happens throughout the majority of the state, with the exception of the eastern area. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are big snakes and generally vary in between 4 and 6 feet long. They have greyish-brown bodies with 23 to 45 dark brown diamond-shaped markings. They are versatile snakes and reside in a range of environments — consisting of deserts, forests, meadows, and rocky hillsides. Western diamondback rattlesnakes have a high venom yield however are typically less hazardous than a few of the other rattlesnakes on our list.

9. Great Plains Rat Snake (Pantherophis emoryi)

The excellent plains rat snake — likewise often called the Texas rat snake — happens statewide throughout Texas. These snakes generally live throughout meadows, open plains, and rocky hillsides. Great plains rat snakes are 3 to 5 feet long and are light grey to tan with dark brown or grey spots. They likewise have 2 stripes on their head which form a point in between their eyes. Great plains rat snakes are not poisonous however imitate rattlesnakes by vibrating their tail in the leaf litter. Rodents comprise most of their diet plan however they likewise often victimize birds and lizards too.

10. Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Another extremely poisonous brown snake in Texas is the wood rattlesnake which is likewise called the canebrake rattlesnake. Timber rattlesnakes are big, effective snakes which vary in between 3 and 5 feet long. They have a series of dark brown to black crossband markings over a brown ground color. However, often you can see a “dark phase” snake which has a dark ground color with even darker crossbands, making it seem almost black. Timber rattlesnakes choose to reside in forests and on rocky slopes and just take place in the eastern 3rd of the state. They have long fangs and a high venom yield and are among the most hazardous snakes in North America.

11. Glossy Swampsnake (Liodytes rigida)

Also called the crayfish snake, the shiny swampsnake is a semiaquatic snake which resides in swamps, streams, ponds, and ditches. However, they are just in the eastern area of the state. Glossy swampsnakes are little snakes, varying just in between 14 and 24 inches long. They are light brown on their dorsal side and often have 2 black stripes running along their back. They likewise have a yellow stubborn belly with 2 parallel rows of black areas. Glossy swampsnakes are nighttime and victim generally on crayfish.

12. Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)

The last snake on our list is the meadow rattlesnake which is just in meadows in the western area of the state. Prairie rattlesnakes are generally 35 to 45 inches long and are light brown with dark brown spots. They are extremely poisonous and posses a mix of hemotoxic and cytotoxic venom which can trigger severe tissue damage. They victim generally on rodents and birds however likewise periodically on frogs and other snakes.

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