1. African puff adder
   Anaconda
2. Asian keelback
   Angolan python

Anacondas are among the longest and heaviest snakes in the world! They are mostly found in aquatic environments, earning them the nickname "water boa." Spotting an anaconda in the water can be difficult, however, as they like to remain submerged with just their nostrils sticking out!

1. Arizona black rattlesnake
   Arafura file snake
2. Andaman cat snake
   Australian copperhead

The Arizona black rattlesnake is named for the predominantly dark (gray, brown and olive) color of the adults, since young members of the species are much lighter. One handy trick this snake has up its sleeve is the chameleon-like ability to change color relatively quickly!

1. Banded flying snake
   Blond hognose snake
2. Ball python
   Black mamba

Black mambas are native to the eastern regions of African and, at up to 14 feet, they hold the distinction of being that continent's longest venomous snake. They also have the killer combination of being very aggressive when threatened and being one of the world's most lethal snakes!

1. Bamboo pit viper
   Brown tree snake
2. Boa constrictor
   Blue krait

Boa constrictors can swim very well, just like their much larger relative, the anaconda. Unlike the anaconda, however, boas prefer to live on dry land. They wrap their muscular bodies around prey to suffocate it, then swallow it whole, taking as much as six days to digest large animals!

1. Bushmaster
   Brazilian smooth snake
2. Beaked sea snake
   Buttermilk racer

There is no doubt that bushmasters are extremely dangerous. They have long fangs, can bite repeatedly, and produce large amounts of very toxic venom. Furthermore, since the bushmaster is an ambush predator, prey very likely never see it coming!

1. Calabar python
   California kingsnake
2. Common tiger snake
   Coastal taipan

There is a very good reason for the "king" in this snake's name. The California kingsnake is well-known to prey on other snakes, including venomous rattlesnakes which it will gobble up before they are completely dead! Luckily, the California kingsnake is relatively immune to the rattlesnake's venom!

1. Corn snake
   Congo snake
2. Crowned snake
   Cuban wood snake

The corn snake is a type of rat snake, feeding mostly on rodents and birds. The slender corn snake is brilliantly colored, nonvenomous and can grow up to 6 feet long. Add the fact that they don't mind too much being handled, and it's easy to see why the corn snake is such a popular choice of pet!

1. Common cobra
   Coachwhip snake
2. Chinese tree viper
   Cottonmouth

The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, holds the distinction of being the world's only semiaquatic pit viper—all other vipers either live on land (terrestrial) or in trees (arboreal). The cottonmouth is also the only venomous water snake on the entire North American continent!

1. Dugite
   Down's tiger snake
2. Dwarf sand snake
   Dog-toothed cat snake

Also known as the spotted brown snake, the dugite makes its home in and around urban and semirural areas in Western Australia. Although it is shy, the Dugite stays close to these inhabited areas since that is where it will find its favorite prey to feed on—house mice!

1. Dusky pygmy rattlesnake
   Diamond python
2. Death adder
   Desert kingsnake

The dusky pygmy rattlesnake can be found in southeastern regions of the United States. It is a venomous snake with a painful but not fatal bite. What makes the dusky pygmy rattlesnake more dangerous is that it is often confused with the similar-looking, harmless hognose snakes of the area.

1. Egyptian asp
   Eastern racer
2. Egg-eater
   Emerald tree boa

This nocturnal ambush predator lives in the South American rainforests where it feeds on lizards and small mammals. As the name hints, the emerald tree boa is very good at blending in with the foliage in which it lives. Its camouflage helps this boa to hide from its only known predator, the Guianan crested eagle.

1. Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
   European asp
2. Eastern brown snake
   Egyptian cobra

Although the European asp can grow to lengths of up to 2 feet, they are often much smaller than this. It is native to the southwestern region of Europe and can live in a wide variety of the habitats found there. That includes in the Swiss Alps at altitudes of over 8,500 feet!

1. Equatorial spitting cobra
   Eastern coral snake
2. Eyelash viper
   European smooth snake

The small and chunky eyelash viper is native to the forests of South and Central America. Its most distinguishing features are its "eyelashes" which are actually enlarged scales above each of its eyes. They act as camouflage, helping the snake's head to better blend in with the foliage around it.

1. Fox snake
   Fea's viper
2. False water cobra
   Fierce snake

Luckily, the fierce snake is not as dangerous as it is venomous. Although it is considered by some sources to be the most venomous snake on Earth, the fierce snake rarely gets a chance to prove it since it lives in isolated, semiarid areas of Australia.

1. Forest cobra
   Fifty-pacer viper
2. Forsten's cat snake
   False coral snake

The forest cobra lives in various habitats in central and western Africa but is most often found in bushy or wooded areas along the coast. As if the mere sight of this snake wasn't intimidating enough, it can make its already broad head even broader so as to ward off trouble!

1. Gopher snake
   Garter snake
2. Grand Canyon rattlesnake
   Gray cat snake

The garter snake lives in habitats throughout most of North and Central America. It is rather common, often representing the highest population of snakes within any area where it is found. In fact, no other North American Snake is as widely distributed across the continent as the garter snake!

1. Ground snake
   Green tree python
2. Great Plains rat snake
   Glossy snake

Glossy snakes are native to the southwestern United States where they hunt mostly small lizards by night. These nonvenomous snakes vary in color according to the particular habitat in which they live. In some areas, the glossy snake is known as the faded snake.

1. Grass snake
   Green anaconda
2. Golden tree snake
   Gray-banded kingsnake

One way to identify the grass snake is by the distinctive yellow band behind its head. Its coloring allows it to blend in well with its surroundings, but if it is frightened or disturbed, you will definitely know it's there. It releases foul-smelling fluid from its anal glands as a means of defense!

1. Himalayan keelback
   Harlequin coral snake
2. Hognose snake
   Hime habu

The Himalayan keelback measures roughly 3 feet when fully grown and has a relatively long tail. It is also called the spotted keelback and the Himalayan mountain keelback. It can live at elevations of nearly 12,000 feet!

1. Horseshoe pit viper
   Hook-nosed sea snake
2. Herald snake
   Horned puff adder

A prominent horn-like scale behind each of its eyes gives this snake the appearance of having horns. The horned puff adder is a type of viper. Its venom is not considered to be very dangerous but will cause anyone who is bitten to suffer a great deal of pain!

1. Indian tree viper
   Inland taipan
2. Ikaheka snake
   Indigo snake

The indigo snake's range runs from the southwestern US through to South America. This large snake hunts for prey during the daytime and will often feed on birds, small mammals and amphibians. The indigo snake will also hunt lizards and other reptiles, even rattlesnakes!

1. Jumping pit viper
   Javan spitting cobra
2. Japanese striped snake
   Jamaican boa

The Jamaican boa or yellow snake is a constrictor and relies on its strong muscles to squeeze and suffocate prey (mostly rats). It once thrived across the island but is now mainly located in the interior region known as the Cockpit Country.

1. Krait
   King cobra
2. Kukri snake
   Khasi Hills keelback

India and Southeast Asia are home to the king cobra. Although most king cobras get to around 12 feet in length, there is at least one specimen which was confirmed to be 18 feet! This fearsome snake also goes by the name "hamadryad" which has the seemingly innocent meaning of "wood nymph."

1. Lyre snake
   Longnosed worm snake
2. Lancehead
   Lora

The lora is found in the countries of Central and South America, including the West Indian island-country of Trinidad and Tobago. This mildly venomous snake is arboreal (lives in trees) and likes to hunt in the daytime. It feeds primarily on birds, lizards and frogs.

1. Massasauga rattlesnake
   McMahon's viper
2. Mojave Desert sidewinder
   Milk snake

The Massasauga rattlesnake is a pit viper, and as such, it is both venomous and heat-seeking. Like all pit vipers, this snake has special heat sensors on the sides of its head which help it to accurately locate prey. It feeds mainly on small mammals and lizards but will also hunt and eat other snakes.

1. Mountain adder
   Madagascar tree boa
2. Mexican vine snake
   Modest keelback

The Mexican vine snake earns its name by growing to over 6 feet long and having a very slender body. It perfects its vine-imitating disguise with its usually gray or brown coloring. The Mexican vine snake is considered to be only mildly venomous.

1. Nubian spitting cobra
   Northeastern hill krait
2. Northern tree snake
   Night snake

The night snake can be found in dry, hot habitats such as deserts, grasslands and thorn forests. This relatively small snake looks somewhat like a viper and uses that fact to its advantage. When threatened, the snake will flatten its head, curl into a coil, and shake its tail just like a rattlesnake!

1. Okinawan Habu
   Orange-collared keelback
2. Ornate flying snake
   Olive sea snake

The ornate flying snake can cover over 300 feet as it glides from tree to tree or from tree to the ground. It has the special ability of flattening and curving its entire body so as to imitate a parachute as it falls. It also wiggles its body as it is flying, sort of like swimming in midair!

1. Pacific patchnose snake
   Puerto Rican boa
2. Philippine cobra
   Parrot snake

There are several types of patchnose snakes which can be found in regions of the western US and Mexico. This nonvenomous group is named for the thick curved scale which is clearly visible at the tip of the snake's snout.

1. Rosy boa
   Reticulated python
2. Rhombic night adder
   Rough green snake

The reticulated python is a nonvenomous, powerful constrictor found in areas of South and Southeast Asia. Its most distinguishing feature is its bright net-like pattern outlined in black. It relies on this coloration to help it blend in with its surroundings in its native habitats.

1. Red-bellied black snake
   Rainbow boa
2. Rat snake
   Ribbon snake

The ribbon snake is a small and slender type of garter snake. Like other garter snakes, it has three colored lines running down its body—one on either side and a third one right down the center of its back. Its stripes, however, are much more pronounced than those of other garter snakes.

1. Rungwe tree viper
   River jack
2. Red diamond rattlesnake
   Ringhals cobra

The ringhals cobra can accurately spit its venom into the eyes of an animal over 8 feet away! The venom has no effect if it lands on intact skin but can cause temporary blindness when it enters the prey's eyes. As a defense mechanism, the ringhals like to fool predators by playing dead.

1. Smooth green snake
   Small-eyed snake
2. Scarlet king snake
   Sand adder

The nonvenomous scarlet king snake has a similar coloration to the venomous coral snake and is often mistaken for it. The difference lies in the arrangement of their red, yellow and black bands. You can tell the two apart with the help of the popular saying, "Red on yellow kills a fellow. Red on black, venom lack"!

1. Sri Lanka cat snake
   San Francisco garter snake
2. Spiny bush viper
   Southern hognose snake

The spiny bush viper is a relatively small venomous snake with a distinctly prickly appearance. While "spiny" might be the most appropriate name for this snake, it also goes by "rough-scaled bush viper" and "African hairy bush viper."

1. Tiger rattlesnake
   Tic polonga
2. Trinket snake
   Twig snake

The tiger rattlesnake is a terrestrial (land-dwelling), generally nocturnal snake. Its very toxic venom is effective on its prey which regularly consists of rodents and other small mammals. The tiger rattlesnake should not be confused with the similarly colored tiger snake of the cobra family.

1. Ursini's viper
   Undulated pit viper
2. Urutu
   Uracoan rattlesnake

The urutu lives in the forested areas of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is a large pit viper which can reach close to 7 feet long when fully grown. Although a bite from the urutu is not normally fatal, the snake is still considered to be very dangerous.

1. White-lipped python
   Wynaad keelback
2. Western brown snake
   Wutu

Also known as the gwardar, the western brown snake is quick, venomous and aggressive when threatened. It typically feeds on small mammals and reptiles, such as rats and lizards but will also eat other snakes.

1. Yellow-lined palm viper
   Yellow-bellied sea snake
2. Yellow-striped rat snake
   Yellow cobra

The yellow-bellied sea snake can be found in most of the oceans of the tropics, especially the Pacific Ocean. It has, however, only been very rarely seen in the Atlantic Ocean. While it is extremely venomous, a bite from this snake is not usually fatal.