What kind of snakes are found in Missouri?
What kind of snakes are found in Missouri?
The state of Missouri has a wide variety of wildlife habitats and is home to roughly 46 species and subspecies of snakes. Most of these snakes are non-venomous and completely harmless to humans….4. Western Pygmy Rattlesnake.
| Species: | Sistrurus miliarius streckeri |
|---|---|
| Diet: | Mice, lizards, small snakes, insects |
How can you tell if a snake is poisonous in Missouri?
If a Missouri snake is venomous:
- It is in the pit viper family – it will have a distinguishable pit between each eye and nostril.
- Its pupils will be vertical slits.
- It will have a single row of scales along its underside.
What does a Missouri brown snake look like?
The general color is gray brown to reddish brown, with a white or yellowish belly. Its back has a distinct tan stripe bordered by two rows of small, dark brown spots; the spots normally are joined by small lines across the tan stripe. The top of the head is usually dark.
What is a garter snake look like?
These are slender snakes with three thin light-colored stripes running the length of the body. Adults have a background color of black, greenish brown, tan, or gray with one stripe running down the middle of the back and one stripe running along each side. The stripes are typically yellow, green, brown, blue, or white.
How many species of snakes are in Missouri?
The United States is home to about 50 species of snakes with 47 of those species being found in Missouri. Most of the snakes in Missouri are also found in varying concentrations in the surrounding states but some stretch to areas even further away.
What time of year do snakes breed in Missouri?
In Missouri, snakes normally breed in the spring, soon after they emerge from winter dormancy. Studies show, however, that a few species may breed in the fall. About half of Missouri’s snake species lay eggs; the rest give birth to fully developed young.
What does a fox snake look like in Missouri?
The Western Fox Snake is yellow, green-brown, or tan with brown blotches and some orange coloring on its head. Its belly is yellow with a black checkered pattern. This snake grows between 36-54 inches. This snake is not very common in Missouri, but it has been found in the Northern third of the state in marshes.
What kind of snakes live in the Mississippi River?
The Mississippi Green Water Snake lives in cypress swamps, and is now endangered in Missouri. Yellow-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythogaster flavigaster) This snake is greenish-grey with a yellow belly. It grows between 30 and 48 inches. This snake is found in southeastern Missouri and in the northern Mississippi River floodplain.
