Virginia Snakes Sorted by Length
Virginia Snake Identification Guide
*NOTE: The largest snake recorded in Virginia history was a harmless Eastern Ratsnake which measured 79.8 inches (6 foot - 7 inches) in total length.
Common |
Average Adult |
Virginia Record |
Record |
Dorsal |
Southeastern Crowned Snake |
8 - 10 |
9.9 |
13 |
Uniformed color |
Rough Earthsnake |
7 - 10 |
11.6 |
12.8 |
Uniform color |
Eastern Wormsnake |
7 - 11 |
12.6 |
15 |
Uniform color |
Smooth Earthsnake |
7 - 10 |
12.6 |
15.5 |
Uniform color |
Mountain Earthsnake |
7 - 10 |
12.6 |
15.5 |
Uniform color |
Dekay's Brownsnake |
9 - 13 |
14.9 |
19.3 |
Spots |
Northern Red-Bellied Snake |
8 - 10 |
15 |
16 |
Stripes |
Northern Ring-Necked Snake |
10 - 15 |
19.5 |
27.8 |
Uniform color |
Southern Ring-Necked Snake |
10 - 14 |
19.5 |
27.8 |
Uniform color |
Smooth Green Snake |
12 - 20 |
22.4 |
26 |
Uniform color |
Snakes with a Virginia Record Length of Over 2 Feet |
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Northern Scarletsnake |
14 - 20 |
25.6 |
32.6 |
Straight bands |
Scarlet Kingsnake |
20 |
? |
29 |
Banded |
Queen Snake |
15 - 24 |
28.1 |
36.3 |
Stripes |
Eastern Glossy Swampsnake |
14 - 24 |
30.5 |
31.4 |
Stripes |
Snakes with a Virginia Record Length of Over 3 Feet |
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Rough Greensnake |
22 - 32 |
37.3 |
45.6 |
Uniform color |
Common Ribbonsnake |
18 - 26 |
38 |
38 |
Stripes |
Eastern Milksnake |
24 - 36 |
42.2 |
52 |
Blotches |
Eastern Gartersnake |
18 - 26 |
43.3 |
48.7 |
Stripes |
Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake |
20 - 33 |
44.5 |
45.5 |
Uniform color/Blotches |
Northern Mole Kingsnake |
30 - 40 |
46.8 |
47 |
Blotches |
Snakes with a Virginia Record Length of Over 4 Feet |
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Eastern Copperhead (** Venomous **) |
24 - 36 |
48 |
53 |
Hourglass bands |
Northern Watersnake |
24 - 42 |
54.1 |
55.3 |
Blotches |
Red Cornsnake |
30 - 48 |
56.7 |
72 |
Blotches |
Plain-Bellied Watersnake |
30 - 48 |
58 |
62 |
Blotches/Uniform color |
Eastern Mudsnake |
40 - 54 |
58.6 |
81.5 |
Blotches |
Snakes with a Virginia Record Length of Over 5 Feet |
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Northern Cottonmouth (** Venomous **) |
30 - 48 |
60.5 |
74 |
Hourglass bands |
Eastern Kingsnake |
36 - 48 |
63.8 |
82 |
Straight bands |
Eastern Black Kingsnake |
36 - 45 |
63.8 |
82 |
Uniform/Straight bands |
Common Rainbow Snake |
27 - 48 |
66 |
68.2 |
Stripes |
Northern Pinesnake |
48 - 66 |
66.1 |
83 |
Blotches |
Timber Rattlesnake (** Venomous **) |
36 - 60 |
67.1 |
74.5 |
Zigzag bands |
Brown Watersnake |
30 - 60 |
68.7 |
69.5 |
Blotches |
Northern Black Racer |
36 - 60 |
70.7 |
73 |
Uniform color |
Snakes with a Virginia Record Length of Over 6 Feet |
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Eastern Ratsnake |
42 - 72 |
79.8 |
101 |
Uniform color |
Dorsal Patterns
Ventral Patterns
Illustrations by Mike J. Pinder
Box Turtle Reporting
