31 Types of Snakes in Missouri: A Field Guide to Every Native Species
October 21, 2026
Missouri is home to nearly fifty snake species and subspecies, yet most residents can only reliably name three or four of them. That gap matters, because the types of snakes in Missouri range from a secretive earth snake smaller than a pencil to a five-foot timber rattlesnake capable of a dangerous bite. Knowing which is which turns a tense backyard encounter into a simple nature observation.
This guide walks through all 31 snakes on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s checklist, organized the way field herpetologists actually think about them: venomous pit vipers first, then the harmless constrictors, water snakes, and burrowers that make up the rest of the state’s reptile community. Each entry covers identification marks, habitat, and the safety information that matters most if you cross paths with one.
| Venomous Snake | Typical Length | Habitat | Conservation Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Copperhead | 24–36 inches | Statewide, rocky woodlands | Common |
| Northern Cottonmouth | 24–48 inches | Southeastern swamps, Ozark streams | Locally common |
| Western Pygmy Rattlesnake | Under 20 inches | Glades, rocky hillsides | Uncommon |
| Eastern Massasauga | 18–30 inches | Mississippi River floodplain | Likely extirpated |
| Prairie Massasauga | 18–30 inches | Northwestern prairie wetlands | State endangered |
| Timber Rattlesnake | 36–60 inches | Wooded, rocky hillsides | Declining |
Only these six are venomous. Most of the 50 species and subspecies of snakes found in Missouri are harmless, with the five commonly recognized venomous species including the Osage copperhead, western cottonmouth, western pygmy rattlesnake, massasauga rattlesnake, and timber rattlesnake. Everything else on this list is a constrictor, egg-eater, or small burrower that poses no threat to people.
1. Kirtland’s Snake
The Kirtland’s snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) is one of the rarest and least-seen snakes on this list. It is a small, reddish-brown snake with a pale pink or red belly marked by a row of dark spots, rarely growing past 18 inches.
In Missouri, this species favors damp prairie remnants, wet meadows, and the edges of marshes, where it hunts earthworms and slugs almost exclusively. Its secretive habits and shrinking wetland habitat make sightings uncommon even in counties where it is known to persist.
2. Ring-Necked Snake
The ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) is instantly recognizable by the bright yellow or orange ring circling its neck against otherwise slate-gray or bluish-black scales. The Missouri Department of Conservation notes it occurs nearly statewide, though it is likely replaced by the Mississippi ring-necked snake subspecies in the southeastern portion of the state.
This small, docile snake hides under rocks, logs, and leaf litter in moist woodlands, only coming out at night to hunt small salamanders and earthworms. When handled, it sometimes coils its tail into a tight spiral to flash its bright orange underside as a startle display.
3. Western Smooth Earth Snake
Gardeners who dig into soft garden soil sometimes turn up the western smooth earth snake (Virginia valeriae elegans) without realizing it. This species ranges in color from red to greyish brown with white belly scales, and typically measures only 18 to 25 centimeters in length.
True to its name, the smooth earth snake spends most of its life underground or beneath surface debris across eastern and central Missouri, feeding almost entirely on earthworms. Because it rarely surfaces during the day, most people never encounter one despite the species being fairly widespread.
4. Western Mud Snake
The western mud snake (Farancia abacura reinwardtii) is a glossy, almost iridescent black snake with a striking pink and black checkerboard belly. It is one of the largest secretive snakes in the state, sometimes reaching over 40 inches, and it is almost entirely aquatic in swamps and sluggish streams of the Bootheel region.
This species hunts primarily at night, targeting salamanders, especially the aquatic siren and amphiuma, as its preferred prey. If you are exploring Missouri’s wetland insect life near southeastern swamps after dark, the mud snake is one of the more unusual finds possible in that habitat.
5. Eastern Copperhead
The eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is the snake most Missourians are likely to actually meet. This medium-sized, stout-bodied pit viper is gray, copper, tan, or pinkish tan with hourglass-shaped bands of dark brown, often edged in white.
The eastern copperhead is the most common venomous snake in Missouri, and it occurs statewide except for the extreme northern border with Iowa, with the Osage copperhead subspecies in the northern two-thirds of the state and the southern copperhead subspecies replacing it in the southern third.
Pro Tip: Young copperheads are often confused with harmless prairie kingsnakes. Young or newly hatched prairie kingsnakes often are confused with the venomous copperhead, but kingsnakes have round to rectangular markings on their back while copperheads have hourglass-shaped markings.
6. Northern Cottonmouth
The northern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) earns its name from a defensive display rather than its diet. This dangerously venomous, semiaquatic snake is named for the cotton-white lining of its mouth, which it opens widely when alarmed, and occurs in the southeastern corner of Missouri with a spotty distribution in the Ozark Region.
Juveniles can be tricky to identify at a glance. Young cottonmouths are superficially patterned like a copperhead and usually have a yellowish-green tail, which fades as the snake matures into its heavier, darker adult coloring.
7. Western Pygmy Rattlesnake
At under 20 inches long, the western pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri) is the smallest rattlesnake in Missouri and easy to overlook. In Missouri, it is most often observed in or near glades, second-growth forests near rock ledges, and the area between forests and open lands, preferring south-facing, rocky, partially wooded hillsides.
Its rattle is so small it sounds more like an insect buzz than the deep rattle of larger species. Anyone curious about how this snake compares to its relatives can explore this guide on how many types of rattlesnakes exist across North America.
8. Eastern Massasauga
The eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) technically belongs on Missouri’s historical species list, but current records suggest it no longer exists in the state. This species is extremely similar to the prairie massasauga, but it occurred along the Mississippi River floodplain north from St. Louis and has not been seen in the state for many decades.
Important Note: The last confirmed report of the eastern massasauga in Missouri dates to 1941, so the species is likely extirpated from the state. It remains on official lists mainly as a historical record and a reminder of the floodplain habitat loss that pushed it out.
9. Prairie Massasauga
The prairie massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus tergeminus) is a small rattlesnake that most Missourians will never see, since it survives in only a handful of northwestern counties. This medium-sized rattlesnake is associated with bottomland prairie habitats in north-central and northwestern Missouri, and the state-endangered species is shy, reclusive, and nonaggressive.
Despite its calm temperament, it will defend itself if cornered. This small rattlesnake will become defensive, sound its rattle, and strike when cornered or harassed, which is true of every venomous species on this list and worth remembering before reaching toward any snake in grassy wetland habitat.
10. Timber Rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is Missouri’s largest venomous snake and the one most associated with the state’s rugged Ozark hill country. Adults usually measure 36 to 60 inches, about 3 to 5 feet, and are known to reach up to 75 inches in length.
The species was formerly found statewide, but is now eliminated from a number of counties, with few records remaining in the prairie regions of the southwestern and northeastern corners and the lowlands of southeastern Missouri. A Shannon County landowner who found one in his chicken house still appreciated the role this snake plays in Missouri’s ecosystem even after having it relocated.
Key Insight: The Missouri Department of Conservation reports no recorded deaths caused by venomous snake bites in the state, and almost all bites happen when a snake is being handled or feels threatened. For readers comparing regional rattlesnake diversity, the rattlesnake species found in Utah make an interesting contrast to Missouri’s three native kinds.
11. Eastern Milk Snake
The eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) wears bold reddish-brown blotches outlined in black on a gray or tan body, a pattern that frequently gets it mistaken for a venomous species and killed needlessly. It favors rocky, wooded hillsides and farmland, where it hides under boards, rock piles, and old barn foundations.
This constrictor feeds heavily on mice and other small rodents, making it a genuine ally for anyone dealing with barn or shed infestations. Readers interested in the full range of color morphs within this species can see the different types of milk snakes found across North America.
12. Western Worm Snake
The western worm snake (Carphophis vermis) is a small, glossy, purplish-brown snake with a pink belly that lives almost entirely underground. Rarely exceeding 11 inches, it spends its life burrowing through loose, moist soil in wooded ravines and hillsides across the southern two-thirds of Missouri.
True to its name, earthworms make up nearly its entire diet, and its smooth, polished scales help it slide through soil with minimal resistance. Most people only find one accidentally while turning over logs, rocks, or garden soil.
13. Diamond-Backed Water Snake
The diamond-backed water snake (Nerodia rhombifer) gets its name from the dark, net-like diamond pattern running down its olive or yellowish-brown body. It is one of the heaviest-bodied water snakes in Missouri, often basking on logs and overhanging branches along the state’s larger rivers and oxbow lakes.
This species is strictly aquatic in habit, feeding on fish and amphibians, and it will drop into the water with a loud splash when startled rather than fleeing overland. Its heavy build and aggressive defensive display when cornered often lead it to be mistaken for a cottonmouth, despite being completely harmless.
14. Smooth Green Snake
The smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis) is a slender, bright grass-green snake that blends almost perfectly into tall grass and low shrubs. Unlike many snakes on this list, it is primarily a daytime hunter, actively climbing through vegetation in search of spiders, crickets, and soft-bodied insects.
This gentle species is found in scattered prairie and glade habitats and rarely bites even when handled. Anyone comparing habitats across states will notice that snakes found in Canada include a close relative of this species adapted to much cooler climates.
15. Plain-Bellied Water Snake
The plain-bellied water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster) is named for its solid yellow, orange, or reddish belly, which contrasts with its plain olive, brown, or gray back lacking the bold blotching seen in other water snakes. It is one of several wetland snakes in Missouri whose species choices are influenced by moisture, cover, and prey availability, and it tends to favor still water like ponds, swamps, and sloughs over fast-moving streams.
It feeds on fish, frogs, and salamanders, often hunting in shallow water at night. Despite its calm nature, its heavy body and water-dwelling habits make it another frequent victim of mistaken cottonmouth identification.
16. Great Plains Rat Snake
The Great Plains rat snake (Pantherophis emoryi) is a pale gray or tan snake marked with brown, arrow-shaped blotches and a distinctive dark stripe or arrow marking on top of its head. Snakes in southern Missouri, including this species, are documented alongside the plain-bellied water snake, northern scarlet snake, and eastern yellow-bellied racer in regional field surveys.
This constrictor favors rocky glades, prairies, and open woodlands in the western and southern parts of the state, where it hunts rodents and the occasional bird or lizard. It is an excellent climber and often found in barns, old buildings, and rock crevices.
17. Northern Scarlet Snake
The northern scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea copei) is a strikingly patterned, secretive snake with red, black, and cream or yellow bands that can cause confusion with venomous coral snakes, though no coral snake is native to Missouri. It spends most of its life underground in sandy or loose soils across the southern part of the state.
Unlike most constrictors, scarlet snakes specialize in eating reptile eggs, using enlarged rear teeth to slice open shells. This secretive lifestyle means sightings are rare even in counties where the species is known to occur.
18. Eastern Yellow-Bellied Racer
The eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) is a fast-moving, slender snake with a plain olive, brown, or bluish-gray back and a bright yellow belly. It is among the species documented in southern Missouri alongside the Great Plains rat snake and northern scarlet snake, though its range extends across much of the western and central parts of the state as well.
True to its name, this snake relies on speed rather than venom or constriction, often fleeing in a blur at the first sign of disturbance. It hunts actively during the day, chasing down insects, frogs, and small rodents in open prairies and field edges.
19. Black Racer
The black racer describes the darker, nearly uniform charcoal or black color variation of the same wide-ranging racer species found in parts of eastern and southern Missouri. Juveniles look dramatically different from adults, showing a blotched, almost camouflage pattern that fades to solid black as the snake matures.
Like its yellow-bellied counterpart, this snake is a swift, alert daytime hunter that relies on speed to escape predators rather than aggression toward people. It occupies brushy fields, woodland edges, and overgrown fence lines, where it hunts a varied diet of rodents, frogs, and insects.
20. Garter Snake
The garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is arguably the most familiar snake in Missouri, showing up in backyard gardens, parks, and nearly any habitat with moisture and cover. It typically displays three light stripes running the length of a dark olive, brown, or black body, though color intensity varies widely between individuals.
Garter snakes are among the Missouri species that retain their young until they are completely developed, a form of reproduction slightly more advanced than egg laying. For readers wanting a deeper look at the color and pattern variation within this species, the full breakdown of garter snake types covers subspecies found well beyond Missouri’s borders.
21. Black Rat Snake
The black rat snake, now more often classified as the western ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus), is one of the largest nonvenomous snakes in Missouri, with adults commonly exceeding five feet. Adults are almost entirely glossy black, though faint blotching sometimes shows through between the scales, while juveniles display a strongly patterned gray-and-brown blotched coat.
This powerful constrictor is an excellent climber, frequently found in barn rafters, tree hollows, and old farm buildings while hunting rodents, birds, and eggs. Because of its size and defensive tail-vibrating display, it is one of the species most often mistaken for a venomous snake despite posing no real threat.
22. Prairie Kingsnake
The prairie kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster) is a tan or grayish snake with faded brown blotches down its back, common across most of the state. This fairly common species lives in prairies and open woods, as well as rocky, wooded hillsides, and like other kingsnakes, it kills its prey by constriction.
Common Mistake: People frequently kill young prairie kingsnakes on sight, assuming they are copperheads. Young or newly hatched prairie kingsnakes often are confused with the venomous copperhead, even though the two species have different belly patterns and completely different temperaments.
23. Speckled Kingsnake
The speckled kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki) is covered in small yellow or white flecks against a glossy black background, giving it a salt-and-pepper look that makes it one of Missouri’s most attractive native snakes. It is common on rocky, wooded hillsides and takes shelter under rocks, logs, boards, and burrows throughout much of the state.
This species has earned a reputation as a snake-eating specialist. It eats mice, lizards, and other snakes, including venomous copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes, and this snake is immune to Missouri’s venomous snakes, a trait shared by several kingsnake relatives across the country.
24. Bullsnake
The bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is Missouri’s largest nonvenomous snake, with some adults topping six feet in length. It inhabits open prairie and sandy soils in the western part of the state, where it burrows into loose ground in search of rodent prey.
When threatened, a bullsnake puts on an impressive bluff, hissing loudly through a specialized structure in its throat while flattening its head into a triangular shape reminiscent of a venomous snake. This defensive theater is entirely for show, as bullsnakes are powerful constrictors with no venom at all.
25. Northern Water Snake
The northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) is the species most commonly mistaken for a cottonmouth statewide, thanks to its thick body and blotched brown or gray pattern that darkens with age. It is found in virtually every permanent body of water in Missouri, from farm ponds to major rivers.
Unlike the cottonmouth, it lacks heat-sensing facial pits and vertical pupils, and it will almost always flee into the water rather than stand its ground. Its diet consists mainly of fish and amphibians, caught in shallow water during active daytime and dusk hunts.
26. Graham’s Crayfish Snake
Graham’s crayfish snake (Regina grahamii) is a slender, olive-brown snake with a pale stripe running along each side of its body, closely tied to the prairie streams and crayfish-rich wetlands of western and northern Missouri. As its name suggests, this species has narrowed its diet almost entirely to crayfish, which it pulls directly from their burrows along muddy banks.
It rarely strays far from water and is most active at dusk and during the night, when crayfish are more active themselves. Because of its specialized diet and shrinking wetland habitat, it is considered uncommon in much of its historical range.
27. Eastern Hognose Snake
The eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is famous for one of the most theatrical defensive displays in the reptile world. When threatened, it flattens its neck like a cobra, hisses loudly, and if that fails to deter a predator, it rolls over, goes limp, and plays dead with its mouth hanging open.
Its upturned, shovel-like snout is built for digging up buried toads, its preferred prey, in sandy and loose-soiled habitats statewide. Readers who want to see how this behavior compares to other reptiles can check out this breakdown of snake species that play dead when threatened.
28. Flat-Headed Snake
The flat-headed snake (Tantilla gracilis) is one of the smallest snakes in Missouri, rarely reaching 8 inches, with a flattened head and a pale tan or gray body often showing a subtle pink or salmon tint underneath. It spends nearly all its life hidden beneath rocks and leaf litter on wooded, rocky hillsides.
This secretive species feeds on centipedes and soft-bodied insect larvae, using mildly toxic saliva to subdue prey too large to swallow easily. Because it is so small and rarely surfaces, it is likely far more common across the Ozarks than sighting records suggest.
29. Lined Snake
The lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum) closely resembles a small garter snake, with a similar light stripe running down its back, but it belongs to its own genus entirely. It favors prairies, vacant lots, and grassy urban edges, often turning up under debris in city parks and suburban yards.
This species gives birth to live young and feeds almost exclusively on earthworms, making it a harmless and beneficial presence in garden soil. Its small size and shy habits mean most Missourians never notice it despite living in close proximity to people.
30. Red-Bellied Snake
The red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) carries a vivid red, orange, or occasionally gray belly beneath a plain brown or gray back. Red-bellied snakes are secretive and normally live under rocks or logs in rocky or damp woods, making them easy to overlook despite being fairly widespread.
Important Note: This species is sometimes mistaken for a young copperhead and needlessly killed, even though it gives birth to 1 to 21 young in late summer or early autumn and feeds harmlessly on slugs and earthworms its entire life.
31. Rough Green Snake
The rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) is a slender, bright green, arboreal snake that spends most of its time climbing through shrubs and low tree branches along streams and forest edges. Its keeled, slightly rough-textured scales distinguish it from the smoother-scaled smooth green snake found elsewhere in the state.
This gentle insect-eater hunts crickets, caterpillars, and spiders during the day and rarely bites, even when handled directly. Its bright green color fades to a dull blue or gray within hours after death, a detail herpetologists use to confirm fresh versus old specimens in the field.
Missouri’s snake diversity reflects the state’s position at the crossroads of eastern forest, Ozark highland, and Great Plains prairie ecosystems, which is why so few other Midwestern states host 31 distinct species in one place. All snakes native to Missouri are protected under the Wildlife Code of Missouri, which treats them as nongame species, meaning it is unlawful to kill them unless a person is directly threatened.
Whether you are hiking the Ozarks, gardening in the suburbs, or fishing along a Missouri River oxbow, the odds favor meeting one of the state’s 25 harmless species long before encountering a copperhead or rattlesnake. For a wider regional perspective, comparing Missouri’s list against the snakes found in neighboring Arkansas or the species native to Mississippi shows just how much overlap exists across the central United States, while states like Maine and Oregon host a far smaller and very different mix of species.