Venomous snakes of Oklahoma

              Photo by Greg Sievert
Photo by Greg Sievert
Photo by Greg Sievert
Photo by Greg Sievert
Photo by Greg Sievert
Photo by Greg Sievert
Photo by Greg Sievert
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation operates free from discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinion or affiliation, race, creed, color, gender, age, ancestry, marital status or disability. A person who feels he or she may have been discriminated against or would like further information should write: Director, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, or Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.
The Prairie Rattlesnake can
be found in rocky outcrops or
canyons, open grasslands and
prairie dog towns. This snake
spends its days in rodent burrows. The adult length ranges
from 34 to 45 inches. The background color is grayish-brown
or yellowish-brown, often with a greenish cast. There are
brown blotches with dark edges along the middle of the back;
on the tail these change to dark brown bands. The tail has
large rattles. The plain belly is white to cream. The Prairie
Rattlesnake is aggressive and has very toxic venom.
The Western Massasauga, also
called the "sand rattler" or
"ground rattler," can be found
near wetlands and prairie
hillsides. The adult length ranges from 18 to 26 inches. The
background color is a light grayish-brown. Along the center
of the back there is a row of dark brown blotches edged in
white. On each side, there are two or three rows of small,
often faded blotches. The tail has small rattles that make little
sound. The belly is light gray with some dark mottling along
the edges. The Western Massasauga is an aggressive snake
and will not hesitate to strike.
The Timber Rattlesnake can be
found in a variety of forested
habitats from rocky, wooded
hillsides to swampy wetlands.
The adult length ranges from 35
to 54 inches. The color of timber rattlesnakes varies; some
individuals are nearly black and others are light-colored
(yellowish-tan shown above). This snake has dark bar-shaped
or rectangular cross bands on the back half of the body and
dark blotches on the front near the head. Some have a rusty-red
stripe along the back, thus this species is sometimes
referred to as the "canebrake rattlesnake" in southeastern
Oklahoma. The tail is not patterned, has large rattles and a
dark, velvet appearance. Thus, this species is often called the
“velvet tail.”
The Copperhead can be found
in a wide variety of habitats.
The adult length ranges from
22 to 36 inches. There are three
subspecies of copperheads in Oklahoma that show modest
color and band width variations: Broad-banded Copperhead,
Osage Copperhead and Southern Copperhead. The body
pattern consists of alternating light and dark bands. The light
bands are often tan with a white border; the darker bands
are copper or reddish-brown with a pinkish tinge. The dark
bands are hourglass-shaped and the central region is lighter
than the outer edge. A juvenile has a yellow tail tip. The
venom is rarely fatal, but causes local tissue damage.
The Western Diamond-backed
Rattlesnake can be found in
arid areas, rocky outcrops, and
bluffs. As an adult, this snake
ranges from 30 to 72 inches long,
and is the largest venomous snake in Oklahoma. There are
dark, diamond-shaped blotches edged with white along the
back. The background is a grayish-brown. This is the only
rattlesnake in Oklahoma that has bold black and white bands
on the tail, thus it is often known as the “coon tail rattler." It
will avoid confrontation if possible, but it is rather aggressive
and will usually rattle its tail and can strike if disturbed. In
Oklahoma, this species hibernates in dens - sometimes in
large numbers.
The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake
can be found in a variety of
habitats, often in association with
oak woodlands or mixed oak-pine
forests. The adult length
ranges from 15 to 20 inches. The background color of this
snake is gray – sometimes with a lavender tint. It has dark
blotches, which appear to be rectangular bars along the back.
On the sides there are one or two rows of small, dark, faded
blotches. A thin, reddish to chestnut stripe extends along the
back through the dorsal blotches. The belly is cream with
many dark blotches or bars. This small snake has a rattle that
sounds similar to an insect buzz, and is hard to hear. It is
locally known as the “ground rattler." This snake rarely bites
humans and is not as toxic as other rattlesnakes.
The Western Cottonmouth can
be found in swamps, marshes,
and wetlands, along streams or
around permanent sources of
water such as ponds. The adult
length ranges from 20 to 42 inches. There are alternating dark-brown
and nearly black bands that run across the body. These
are distinct in a juvenile but often blend together in an adult
and make them appear almost uniformly dark. The belly has
many large, dark blotches that make it appear dark. A juvenile
has a yellow to yellow-green tail tip. It will open its mouth at an
intruder exposing the cotton-white color. It often swims with
its head, neck, and back out of the water, while non-venomous
watersnakes commonly swim with only the head and neck out
of the water. It is often called a "water moccasin."
Prairie Rattlesnake Western Massasauga Copperhead Timber Rattlesnake
Western Diamond-backed
Rattlesnake
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake Western Cottonmouth
Oklahoma is home to 46 snake species. Of these,
seven species are venomous and belong to a group
known as pit vipers; all of which are shown on
this poster. Oklahoma’s venomous snakes share
several physical and behavioral traits. In all species,
the head is noticeably wider than the neck and is
somewhat triangular in shape. They all periodically
shed and regrow their fangs. The eyes of each
species have elliptical pupils (similar to the eyes of
cats) that help them see at night. The scales on the
back and sides are keeled – meaning that there is a
raised ridge in the center of each scale. All species
have a pair of small heat-sensing pits between
the eyes and the nostrils that help them hunt by
following the heat trails left by their prey. Each
species often hunts by remaining in one place and
ambushing its prey. Many are distinguished by the
rattle on their tail. None of Oklahoma’s venomous
snakes lay eggs; the young develop within the
female’s body and she gives birth to them in the
late summer. During warm weather, each species
is active primarily at night; during cooler weather
in the spring and fall they are active primarily
during the day. Many of these species hibernate in
communal dens during late fall and winter, often
with nonvenomous snakes. Seek medical attention
if bitten by a venomous snake - do not try to treat
the bite yourself.
REPTILE REGULATIONS: For complete reptile
regulations in Oklahoma, refer to the Oklahoma
Hunting Guide online at wildlifedepartment.com.
The photos, range maps and text were adapted
from the publication, "A Field Guide to Oklahoma's
Amphibians and Reptiles," by Greg and Lynnette
Sievert, which is available at the offices of the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
and online at wildlifedepartment.com. Each snake's
approximate distribution in Oklahoma is shown in
red on the range maps.
Facts
of Oklahoma