Snakes are an integral part of Maryland’s fauna, functioning as important predators. Snakes are limbless reptiles with elongate bodies that are covered with scales. All snakes lack external ear openings and eyelids and have long, forked tongues. Maryland is home to 27 species and sub-species of snakes, including two with medically significant venom, the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. These two species are found in the viper family (Viperidae). The remaining species are in the family Colubridae, which is the largest snake family in the world. For more information on venomous snakes in Maryland, check out our venomous snakes page. Here is our easy photo guide to common snakes of Maryland.

Sna​ke Anatomy​

Pit Vipers (Subfamily Crotalinae)

There are two species of pit vipers found in Maryland, the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and the eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). Both of these species are dangerously venomous and should be treated with caution. Do not approach or handle these snakes as a bite could be fatal. As the name implies the pit vipers have a heat seeking pit between each eye and nostril. The pit vipers also differ noticeably from the colubrids by having vertical pupils, and undivided subcaudal scales (Conant and Collins 1998). For more information on Maryland’s venomous snakes, please click here. For visuals of snake anatomy features, please click here.

	Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Photo courtesy of Linh Phu Former Name:​ Northern Copperhead
	Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) – Watchlist Photo courtesy of Scott A. Smith

Colubrids (Family Colubridae)

Maryland colubrids differ from vipers by having round pupils in the eyes, no heat seeking pit between each eye and nostril, a complete set of divided sub-caudal scales, and a series of large plates (scales) on the dorsum of the head.

There are 25 different types of snakes (including sub-species) from the Family Colubridae that can be found in Maryland. Due to the large number of genera (16) and the relatively few species within each genus (no more than two), identification of Maryland colubrids to genus is not discussed here. Species and sub-species descriptions follow. ​

Click on the common name for more information on each snake species and subspecies.

	Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) Photo courtesy of Scott A. Smith Former Name: Northern Watersnake
	Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster) Photo courtesy of Dave Wilson Former Name: Red-bellied Watersnake
	Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) Photo courtesy of John White
	Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae) Photo courtesy of Jay Kilian
	Mountain Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae pulchra) – Endangered Photo courtesy of Don Forester
	Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) Photo courtesy of Scott A. Smith Former Name: Northern Brownsnake
	Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) Photo courtesy of Mark Tegges Former Name: Northern Red-bellied Snake
	Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) Photo courtesy of John White Former Name: Eastern Gartersnake
	Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis saurita​) Photo courtesy of John White Former Name: Common Ribbonsnake
	Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) Southern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) Photo courtesy of Matt Close Former Name: Ring-necked Snake
	Common Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus) Photo courtesy of Corey Wickliffe Former Name: Eastern Wormsnake
	Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis) Photo courtesy of Matt Sell
	Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) Photo courtesy of Linh Phu Former Name: Northern Rough Snake
	Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) Photo courtesy of Corey Wickliffe
	Rainbow Snake (Farancia erytrogramma) - Endangered Photo courtesy of Lance Benedict
	North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) Photo courtesy of John White Former Name: Northern Black Racer
	Eastern Pinesnake (Pituophis melanoleucus) - Historic Photo courtesy of Scott A. Smith Former Name: Northern Pinesnake
	Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) Photo courtesy of Linh Phu
	Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) Photo courtesy of John White
	Northern Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis rhombomaculata) Photo courtesy of John White Former Name: Mole Kingsnake
	Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) Photo courtesy of John White
	Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) Photo courtesy of John White
​	Scarletsnake​ (Cemophora coccinea) -Watchlist Photo courtesy of Scott A. Smith Former Name: Northern Scarletsnake