Did you know that ‘Snake Breeds’ is actually incorrect? There are technically no snake breeds, as snakes are a breed of their own.
Since snakes cannot cross breed (e.g. mating a corn snake with a ball python), there’s no such thing as ‘snake breeds’. Alternatively, there are around 3,000 known snake species, and we are working to compile as many of them as possible right here. Enjoy!
Boas
Hog Island Boa
Hog Island Boa Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Boa Constrictor Imperator
- Location: Small Islands of the coast of Honduras, Cayos De Cochinos
- Size: 48-72 inches inches (121-183 cm)
- Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Diet: Rodents, birds
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: This snake is highly endangered, yet very popular among pet owners. There are likely more of these snakes in captivity than in the wild since their natural locality is so small.
Kenyan Sand Boa
Kenyan Sand Boa Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Eryx colubrinus
- Location: Kenya and surrounding countries
- Size: 24-36 inches (61-90 cm)
- Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Diet: Rodents, desert dwelling animals, birds, lizards
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: The Kenyan Sand Boa is one of the most popular pet snakes. Their head is specifically designed to burrow in the sand, where they wait for unknowing prey.
Rubber Boa
Rubber Boa Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Charina bottae
- Location: North America, Canada; Pacific Northwest (Washington State, Oregon, British Columbia)
- Size: 12-24 inches (30-61 cm)
- Lifespan: 15-20 years
- Diet: Small rodents, moles, frogs, lizards
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: The Rubber Boa is known to be the most friendly snake on the planet. It is super social and very docile. In fact, wild Rubber Boas are known to enjoy being handled by a human.
Blue Racer Snake
Blue Racer Snake Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor foxii
- Location: North America; Midwest
- Size: 34-65 inches (86-165 cm)
- Lifespan: 14-21 years
- Diet: Small mammals, frogs, lizards, and other prey common to the floors of grasslands
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: One of the fastest snakes in the world; can travel up to 4.5 mph, or 7.2 km per hour.
Chicken/Yellow Rat Snake
Chicken/Yellow Rat Snake Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Spilotes pullatus
- Location: North America, Mexico; Southern states bordering the atlantic
- Size: 36-72 inches (91-189 cm)
- Lifespan: 10-18 years
- Diet: Small mammals, mice, rodents, birds, eggs
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: This species has many common names including: Chicken snake, yellow rat snake, Mexican yellow rat snake, tiger snake, and Caninana
Cobras
Cape Coral Cobra
Cape Coral Cobra Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Aspidelaps lubricus
- Location: Mostly Southern Africa, close to the coast
- Size: 18-24 inches (30-60 cm)
- Lifespan: 20-25 years
- Diet: Primary diet is lizards, also eats rodents, small birds, etc.
- Venomous?: Extremely venomous
- Interesting Fact: This is one of the smallest species of Cobras, and also one of the most radiant looking. It’s easily identifiable by it’s bands and bright red-orange scales.
Egyptian Cobra (Asp)
Egyptian Cobra Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Naja haje
- Location: Mostly Northern Africa, stretching to the Congo Basin
- Size: 50-55 inches (127-140 cm)
- Lifespan: 20-25 years
- Diet: Rodents, mammals, lizards, smaller reptiles
- Venomous?: Extremely venomous
- Interesting Fact: The nickname “Asp” comes from ancient Egyptian Folklore — Cleopatra is said to have committed suicide by allowing an Asp to bite her.
Red Spitting Cobra
Red Spitting Cobra Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Naja Pallida
- Location: Central and East Africa
- Size: 28-36 inches (71-91 cm)
- Lifespan: 15-20 years in captivity
- Diet: Rodents, mammals, lizards, smaller reptiles, other snakes, birds, etc.
- Venomous?: Extremely venomous
- Interesting Fact: Red Spitting Cobras are one of the only species that can shoot projectile venom at prey or other threats. The venom is quite potent, and can cause some serious damage if inflicted in the eyes of the attacked.
Elephant Trunk Snake
Elephant Trunk Snake Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Acrochordus Javanicus
- Location: Southeast Asia; mostly in Malaysia and Indonesia
- Size: 72-96 inches (192-228 cm)
- Lifespan: 12-15 years
- Diet: Fish, frogs, lizards, amphibians
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: This species is one of the only fully aquatic snake species, even though it can’t breathe under water, It can stay under water for nearly an hour before coming up for air.
Pythons
Jungle Carpet Python
Jungle Carpet Python Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Morelia spilota cheynei
- Location: North Eastern Austrailia
- Size: 36-60 inches (91-152 cm)
- Lifespan: 15-20 years; sometimes 30+
- Diet: Small mammals, rats, frogs, lizards, birds
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: Jungle Carpet Pythons have a beautiful yellow radiance. Although this species can only be found in a small area of NE Australia, it’s one of the more popular pet snakes. Likely because of it’s color!
White Lipped Python
White Lipped Python Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Bothrochilus albertisii
- Location: Papua New Guinea and neighboring islands
- Size: 84-116 inches (214-300 cm)
- Lifespan: Up to 30 years
- Diet: Small mammals, rats, frogs, lizards, birds
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: White Lipped Pythons have 6 different subspecies that all have slight variances based on their geography. They are also one of the only few “iridescent” snakes and reflect a unique light spectrum.
Vipers
African Bush Viper
African Bush Viper Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Atheris hispida
- Location: Central and East Africa
- Size: 24-36 inches (60-91 cm)
- Lifespan: 10-12 years in the wild
- Diet: rodents, small mammals, birds, lizards, and small snakes
- Venomous?: Extremely venomous
- Interesting Fact: African bush vipers, or Spiny bush vipers are one of the only snake species to have such a emphasized keeled features to their scales. See how their scales are lifted up? This snake is truly incredible looking.
Eyelash Viper
Eyelash Viper Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Bothriechis Schlegelii.
- Location:Southern Mexico down to South America
- Size: 20-30 inches (50-76 cm)
- Lifespan: 5-7 years in the wild
- Diet: rodents, amphibians, birds, lizards, and small snakes
- Venomous?: VERY venomous
- Interesting Fact: Eyelash Vipers get their name from the unique scales located above each eye. Don’t let the delicate look fool you though, these vipers are incredibly dangerous
Golden Lancehead Viper
Golden Lancehead Viper Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Bothrops insularis
- Location: Brazil, Queimada Grande island
- Size: 20-40 inches (50-100 cm)
- Lifespan: Unknown, possibly 10-12 years
- Diet: Birds, Fish, frogs, lizards, amphibians
- Venomous?: Highly Venomous
- Interesting Fact: There are less than an estimated 4,000 golden lancehead vipers in existence, and they are thought to be one of the most dangerous snakes on the planet. Their venom is up to 5x more potent to other vipers of the same genus.
Mamushi (Japanese) Pit Viper
Mamushi Pit Viper Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Gloydius Blomhoffii
- Location: Mostly Japan. Also can be found in Korea, China, and strangely, Russia
- Size: 25-31 inches (63-76 cm)
- Lifespan: 10-15 years. Up to 20-25 years in captivity.
- Diet: Mostly birds and rodents – other small creatures near farmlands.
- Venomous?: Highly venomous and aggressive
- Interesting Fact: The mamushi Pit Viper accounts for the most snake bites in all of Japan — around 3,000 bites per year. Luckily, there’s an anti-venom and only about 10 people die from bites annually.
Russell’s Viper
Russell’s Viper Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Daboia Russelii
- Location: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
- Size: 48-72 inches (121-182 cm)
- Lifespan: Up to 20-25 years
- Diet: Rodents, scorpions, smaller reptiles, amphibians, birds, and lizards.
- Venomous?: Highly venomous and aggressive
- Interesting Fact: This snake is one of the most dangerous vipers in the world. It’s also one of the largest vipers. It accounts for the majority of snake bite deaths in Burma, and is not to be reckoned with. If approached, it will stand it’s ground and likely strike.
Queen Snake
Queen Snake Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Regina septemvittata
- Location: Eastern US; Southern Canada
- Size: 24-36 inches (60-90 cm)
- Lifespan: 5-10 years in the wild
- Diet: Crayfish, fish, frogs, toads, aquatic creatures
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: Queen snakes are semi-aquatic, meaning they spend a lot of time both in and out of water. They also LOVE crayfish. It’s one of their favorite meals.
Ringneck Snake
Ringneck Snake Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Diadophis punctatus
- Location: Eastern Canada, US, Mexico
- Size: 13-18 inches (30-45 cm)
- Lifespan: Up to 20 years in the wild; 5-6 years in captivity
- Diet: worms, bugs, crickets, small amphibians and lizards
- Venomous?: Yes, but no dangerous to humans. Rear fanged.
- Interesting Fact: Ringneck snakes have 2 defense mechanisms: foul smells and playing dead. Surprisingly, they both can be quite effective when trying to deter predators.
Sunbeam Snake
Sun Beam Snake Species Facts
- Scientific Name: Xenopeltis unicolor
- Location: Southeast Asia
- Size: 24-48 inches (60-121 cm)
- Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Diet: Small mammals, rats, frogs, lizards, birds
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: Sunbeam snakes are one of the only snakes in the world that have iridescent scales. When life reflects off of them, they glisten with the same kind of rainbow you see through a garden sprinkler on a sunny day.
Western Fox Snake
Western Fox Snake Species Facts
- Scientific Name: pantherophis P.vulpinus
- Location: Midwestern US; stretching into Canada
- Size: 36-60 inches (91-175 cm)
- Lifespan: 15-20
- Diet: Small mammals, rats, frogs, lizards, birds, rodents
- Venomous?: No
- Interesting Fact: Unfortunately, this snake is often mistake for a copperhead, which is a venomous snake. In fact, the fox snake is quite docile. Their main defense mechanism is to emit an odor to fend off prey.