VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE U.S. BY SCIENTIFIC NAME

Let me start by saying that I am not a herpetologist. This page is designed to list the venomous snakes of the United States, but should in no way be considered an authoritative list. This page has not been reviewed by a herpetologist.

All snakes belong to the following taxonomic groups.

Domain: Eukarya (Plants, animals, fungi, and protists)
Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Chordata (Animals with a notochord - a type of support rod in the back that helps support the body)
Subphylum: Vertebrata (Animals with a spinal chord.)
Class: Reptilia (Reptiles - turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and snakes)
Order: Squamata (Scaled Reptiles - Lizards and Snakes)
Suborder: Serpentes (Snakes)

Below is a list of the venomous snakes that are found in the United States, with their scientific classification within the suborder Serpentes. Click on the common name of the snake for information about that snake.

Family: Elapidae (All have short, nonretractable, grooved fangs in the front of their mouths.)
- Genus: Micruroides (Western Coral Snakes)
  - Species: Micruroides euryxanthus (Western Coral Snake)
    - Subspecies: Micruroides euryxanthus euryxanthus - Arizona Coral Snake
- Genus: Micrurus (Eastern Coral Snakes)
  - Species: Micrurus fulvius - Eastern Coral Snake
  - Species: Micrurus tener - Texas Coral Snake
Family: Viperidae (Vipers. All have long, retractable, hollow fangs in the front of their mouths.)
- Subfamily: Crotalinae (Pit Vipers. All have heat-sensing pits.)
  - Genus: Agkistrodon (American Mocassins)
    - Species: Agkistrodon contortrix (Copperhead)
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix - Southern Copperhead
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus - Broad-Banded Copperhead
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen - Northern Copperhead
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster - Osage Copperhead
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster - Trans-Pecos Copperhead
    - Species: Agkistrodon piscivorus (Cottonmouth)
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti - Florida Cottonmouth
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma - Western Cottonmouth
      - Subspecies: Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus - Eastern Cottonmouth
  - Genus: Crotalus (Advanced Rattlesnakes)
    - Species: Crotalus adamanteus - Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus atrox - Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus cerastes (Sidewinder)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus cerastes cerastes - Mojave Desert Sidewinder
      - Subspecies: Crotalus cerastes cercobombus - Sonoran Desert Sidewinder
      - Subspecies: Crotalus cerastes laterorepens - Colorado Desert Sidewinder
    - Species: Crotalus exsul - Red Diamond Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus horridus - Timber Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus lepidus (Rock Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus lepidus klauberi - Banded Rock Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus lepidus lepidus - Mottled Rock Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus mitchellii (Speckled Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus - Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus mitchellii stephensi - Panamint Speckled Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus molossus (Black-tailed Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus molossus molossus - Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus oreganus (Western Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus oreganus abyssus - Grand Canyon Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus oreganus cerberus - Arizona Black Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus oreganus concolor - Midget Faded Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus oreganus helleri - Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus oreganus lutosus - Great Basin Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus oreganus oreganus - Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus pricei (Spotted Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus pricei pricei - Western Twin Spotted Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus scutulatus - Mojave Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus tigris - Tiger Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus viridis (Prairie Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus viridis nuntius - Hopi Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus viridis viridis - Prairie Rattlesnake
    - Species: Crotalus willardi (Ridgenose Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Crotalus willardi obscurus - Animas Ridgenose Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Crotalus willardi willardi - Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake
  - Genus: Sistrurus (Primitive Rattlesnakes)
    - Species: Sistrurus catenatus (Massasauga)
      - Subspecies: Sistrurus catenatus catenatus - Eastern Massasauga
      - Subspecies: Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii - Desert Massasauga
      - Subspecies: Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus - Western Massasauga
    - Species: Sistrurus miliarius (Pygmy Rattlesnake)
      - Subspecies: Sistrurus miliarius barbouri - Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Sistrurus miliarius miliarius - Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake
      - Subspecies: Sistrurus miliarius streckeri - Western Pygmy Rattlesnake

For more information on venomous snakes, please see the Venomous Links page.

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