Queen Snake

1
Queen Snake Regina septemvittata Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Queen snake has creamy line running the length of
the body. Belly has two broad and two narrow
brown stripes. Species is primarily aquatic and
ranges from 38 61 cm (15 24 in). Scales
keeled.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon
sipedon Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family
Colubridae
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
The northern water snake is fairly heavy-bodied,
has keeled scales, and ranges from 61 107 cm
(24 42 in). As name suggests, is associated
with aquatic habitats. Coloration variable
but dark bands on anterior usually become
more blotchy toward posterior.,
2
Northern Brown Snake Storeria dekayi Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Small species, 23 33 cm (9 13 in). Scales
are keeled Has a dark streak on side of head. Two
parallel rows of dark brown/blackish spots on
back.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Northern Redbelly Snake Storeria
occipitomaculata Class Reptilia Order
Squamata Family Colubridae
Small, 20 26 cm (8 10 in). Has
keeled scales. Note three light spots on nape
of neck. Usually brownish above, but
some variation. May have striping on back. Has
plain, red belly.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
3
Smooth Earth Snake Virginia valeria Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Small (up to 33 cm/13 in), plain, brown snake.
May have black dots on dorsal scales. Scales
smooth. Loreal scale touches eye see Conant
and Collins illustration.
Sources Conant and Collins Fl Mus Nat Hist.
4
Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
45 66 cm (18 26 in). Keeled scales.
Three light stripes on darker background. Tail is
very long, about 33 of total body length.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
45 66 cm. Scales keeled. Coloration highly
variable. Often has three yellowish stripes on
darker back- ground. There often are double rows
of alternating black spots between light stripes.
A generalist found in a wide variety of
habitats.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
5
Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getulus
getulus Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family
Colubridae
Medium to large (90 122 cm 36 48 in) snake.
Smooth scales. Shiny black with whitish/creamy
chain pattern. Often preys upon other
snakes, with water snakes being a preferred
item. Also will take turtle eggs, rodents.
Restricted to eastern WV.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon
platirhinos Class Reptilia Order
Squamata Family Colubridae
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
The eastern hognose snake ranges from 51 84 cm
(20 33 in). Keeled scales. Has
upturned snout. Body coloration variable, but
usually has spots. Underside of tail lighter than
underside of body. When threatened, will flatten
head and neck, inflate body with air, hiss
loudly. If threat fails, will feign death. Turns
over on back, opens mouth, briefly convulses,
then lays still. If turned upright during death
display, will immediately turn back over.
6
Northern Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus
edwardsii Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family
Colubridae
Small snake, 25 38 cm (10 15 in). Has golden
ring on neck. Belly is usually plain, but may
have some small black spots. Smooth scales.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Eastern Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Very small, 19 28 cm (7.5 11 in). Dark
above and pinkish below. Pinkish coloration may
extend a couple scale rows above belly. Smooth
scales.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
7
Northern Black Racer Coluber constrictor
constrictor Class Reptilia Order
Squamata Family Colubridae
The black racer can be large, attaining
lengths of up to 150 cm (5 ft). Scales are
smooth. Body is uniformly black above and below,
unlike superficially similar black rat snake.
Chin is usually white. Also differs from black
rat snake by having unkeeled mid-dorsal scales.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Slender, 56 81 cm. Green above and pale below.
Distinguished from smooth green snake by its
keeled scales. Excellent climber that spends
most of its time in trees and bushes,
especially those overhanging streams. A
vicious killer, it is responsible for thousands
of deaths each year in WV alone (only joking - I
just wanted to see if you guys actually read
this stuff).
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
8
Very similar in appearance to rough green
snake but easily distinguished because smooth
green snake has unkeeled scales. Length from 30
51 cm. Not nearly as arboreal as RGS.
Another common name is grass snake, probably due
to its coloration and habitat preference.
Smooth Green Snake Opheodrys vernalis Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Corn Snake Elaphe guttata Class Reptilia Order
Squamata Family Colubridae
The corn snake is medium-sized, ranging from 76
122 cm (30 48 in). Color shades somewhat
variable, but usually has orange-red spots on
lighter body. Note arrowhead that terminates
between eyes. Scales weakly keeled. Found in
extreme eastern WV.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
9
Black Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Juvenile
Large- ranges from 106 183 cm (42 72 in).
Scales weakly keeled. Black above. Unlike the
black racer, belly is not black, usually lighter
with checkerboard pattern. Upper parts may also
show some traces of lighter colors intermingled
with black. Rat snakes are good climbers
and often includes nestling birds in its diet.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Northern Pine Snake Pituophis m.
melanoleucus Class Reptilia Order
Squamata Family Colubridae
Large, heavy-bodied snake with lengths from 122
168 cm (48 66 in). Dark blotches
on whitish/yellowish body. Blotches are usually
black anteriorly and may be brown on or near
tail. Only one record of occurrence in WV, in
extreme southern part of state.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
10
Eastern Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae
Milk snakes are common throughout much of WV and
utilize a wide variety of habitats. They are
medium sized, reaching a length of 61 90 cm (24
36 in). Y-shaped or V-shaped blotch on nape of
neck. Dark brown or reddish blotches bordered by
black along a gray or tan body. Scales smooth.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
Northern Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Viperidae
Found throughout most of WV. Heavy- bodied, with
triangular head that is typical of pit vipers.
Coppery red head, with chestnut-colored hourglass
pattern on body. Hourglass is thin on dorsal,
wider on sides. Weakly keeled scales. 61 90 cm
(24 36 in).
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.
11
Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Class
Reptilia Order Squamata Family Viperidae
The Timber Rattlesnake is a large,
heavy-bodied snake, with a large
triangular-shaped head that is typical of pit
vipers. It ranges in size from 90 152 cm (36
60 in). Keeled scales. There are two color
phases that occur in WV, yellow and black. Both
phases have dark chevron (V) markings on a
lighter background. The coloration of the upper
parts of both phases becomes black near the tail.
Rattle at end of tail usually adds 1 2
buttons per year, but portions of rattle are
often lost.
Sources Conant and Collins Jeff Humphries,
Marshall Univ.