Squamates: Serpentes

Question 1

Indotyphlops braminus

Answer 1

Brahminy Blind Snake
Family Typhlopidae
Poorly developed eye
Small

Question 2

Aspidites ramsayi

Answer 2

Woma Python
Family Pythonidae
Small, unkeeled scales
Brown and white banding
Live specimen

Question 3

Trimorphodon lambda

Answer 3

Sonoran Lyre Snake
Family Colubridae
U/V mark on head

Question 4

Lampropeltis gentilis

Answer 4

Western Milk Snake
Family Colubridae
Red, yellow, and black bands (black and red touch)
Patterned belly
Live specimen

Question 5

Lampropeltis triangulum

Answer 5

Eastern Milk Snake
Family Colubridae
Red-brown spots on dorsum
Checkered venter
Triangle white patch on head

Question 6

Lampropeltis elapsoides

Answer 6

Scarlet King Snake
Family Colubridae
White/yellow, black and red bands (red touches black)
Patterned belly

Question 7

Lampropeltis getula

Answer 7

Eastern King Snake
Family Colubridae
Black with yellow/white “chains”

Question 8

Lampropeltis splendida

Answer 8

Desert King Snake
Family Colubridae
Dorsum and venter black w yellow speckles
Live specimen

Question 9

Lampropeltis rhombomaculata

Answer 9

Mole King Snake
Family Colubridae
Mottled venter
Brown-red blotches that fade with age

Question 10

Pitiuophis catenifer

Answer 10

Gopher snake
Family Colubridae
Blotches become bands near tail
Enlarged rostral scale
Live specimen

Question 11

Coluber constrictor

Answer 11

Racer
Family Colubridae
Solid black dorsum and venter
White chin
Lack upturned nose and keeled scales

Question 12

Carphophis amoenus

Answer 12

Worm Snake
Family Colubridae
Very small
Flat head

Question 13

Cemophora coccinae

Answer 13

Scarlet snake
Family Colubridae
Plain venter
Red snout

Question 14

Senticolis triaspis

Answer 14

Green Rat Snake
Long and slender
White venter
Green dorsum
Divided anal plate

Question 15

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Answer 15

Eastern Rat Snake
Family colubridae
Patterned for first year
Ventral white w dark intrusion

Question 16

Pantherophis guttatus

Answer 16

Corn Snake
Family Colubridae
Checkered venter
Patterned head

Question 17

Masticophis flagellum

Answer 17

Coachwhip
Family Colubridae
Longest snake in Southeast
Black to tan gradient
Whip-like tail

Question 18

Opheodrys aestivus

Answer 18

Rough Green Snake
Family Colubridae
White belly
Keeled scales

Question 19

Storeria dekayi

Answer 19

Brown snake
Family Colubridae
Small
Two rows of dots on dorsum and two rows on venter

Question 20

Storeria occipitomaculata

Answer 20

Red-bellied Snake
Family Colubridae
Darker head
Light ring on neck

Question 21

Virginia valeriae

Answer 21

Smooth Earth Snake
Family Colubridae
Venter lighter but not stark
Unkeeled scales

Question 22

Haldea striatula

Answer 22

Rough Earth Snake
Family Colubridae
No spots or stripes
Keeled scales

Question 23

Tantilla coronata

Answer 23

SE Crowned Snake
Family Colubridae
Slender
Black head and chin (oreo head)
Smooth scales

Question 24

Nerodia erthrogaster

Answer 24

Plain Belly Water Snake
Family Natricidae
Unpatterned venter
Juveniles patterned, adults uniform

Question 25

Nerodia sipedon

Answer 25

Northern Water Snake Family Natricidae Very large alternating square blotches

Question 26

Nerodia taxispilota

Answer 26

Brown Water Snake Family Natricidae Brown blotches on dorsum and belly

Question 27

Nerodia fasciata

Answer 27

Banded Water Snake Family Natricidae Crossbands larger in middle

Question 28

Regina septemvittata

Answer 28

Queen Snake Family Natricidae Head same as neck Light lines down side

Question 29

Thamnophis sirtalis

Answer 29

Garter Snake Family natricidae Three lines down body Stripe on upper lip Less slender than T. sauritis

Question 30

Thamnophis sauritis

Answer 30

Ribbon Snake Family Natricidae Three yellow lines down back more slender than T. sirtalis Unpattern lip

Question 31

Farancia abacura

Answer 31

Mud Snake Family Dipsadidae Flat head Spine on tail Red and black bands

Question 32

Heterodon nasicus

Answer 32

Western Hognose Snake Family Dipsadidae Upturned rostral scale 8-27 azygous scales 2-9 loreal scales Live specimen

Question 33

Heterdon kennerlyi

Answer 33

Mexican Hognose Snake Family Dipsadidae Upturned rostral scale 2-11 azygous scales 0-6 loreal scales Live specimen

Question 34

Heterodon simus

Answer 34

Southern Hognose Snake Family Dipsadidae Upturned rostral scale Large blotches on back; small blotches on sides Underside of tail same as belly

Question 35

Heterodon platirhinos

Answer 35

Eastern Hognose Snake Family Dipsadidae Under tail lighter than belly Longest hognose

Question 36

Hypsiglena jani

Answer 36

Chihuahuan Night Snake Family Dipsadidae Very small White venter Smooth scales

Question 37

Diadophis punctatus

Answer 37

Ringneck Snake Family Dipsadidae Ring around neck Bright venter with black spots down middle

Question 38

Rhadinaea flavilata

Answer 38

Pine Woods Snake Family Dipsadidae Stripe across eye Yellow lip

Question 39

Micrurus fulvius

Answer 39

Eastern Coral Snake Family Elapsidae Red, yellow, and black bands (red and black don't touch) Black nose

Question 40

Crotalus adamanteus

Answer 40

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Family Viperidae Broad heads w two light lines Brown diamonds on dorsum surrounded by lighter scales

Question 41

Crotalus horridus

Answer 41

Timber Rattlesnake Family Viperidae Stripe down length of back Chevron pattern w forward V

Question 42

Crotalus lepidus

Answer 42

Rock Rattlesnake Family Viperidae Smaller Tan to white Crossbands across body and tail

Question 43

Sistrurus miliarius

Answer 43

Pigmy rattlesnake Family Viperidae Smaller Small rattle Mid-dorsal spots

Question 44

Agkistrodon contortrix

Answer 44

Copperhead Family Viperidae Triangular head Hourglass crossbands Solid head

Question 45

Agkistroson piscivorous

Answer 45

Cottonmouth Family Viperidae Large jowls Blotched belly Losses pattern (turns black)