Identify The Most Dangerous Snakes In Tennessee (With Images)

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Common snakes found in the state of Tennessee

Tennessee

Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

High Risk

Venomous

50–95 cm (20–37 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia


Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus

High Risk

Venomous

65 to 90 cm (26 to 35 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia


Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

High Risk

Venomous

 91–152 cm (36–60 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin 


Pigmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius

High Risk

Venomous

40–60 cm (16–24 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas


Worm Snake

Carphophis amoenus

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

9–28 cm (7.5–11.0 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia


Scarlet Snake

Cemophora coccinea

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

14-26 inches (36–66 cm) 

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia


Racer

Coluber constrictor

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

50 -152 cm (20 -60 in)

  • All States except Alaska & Hawaii


Ringneck Snake

Diadophis punctatus

Zero Risk

Nonvenomous

25–38 cm (10–15 in)

  • All States except Alaska & Hawaii


Corn Snake

Pantherophis guttatus

Zero Risk

Nonvenomous

 61–182 cm (2.–5.97 ft)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia 


Mud Snake

Farancia abacura

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

101.6–137 cm (40–54 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia


Western Hognose Snake

Heterodon nasicus

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

40–50 cm (15–20 in)

  • All States except Alaska & Hawaii


Eastern Hognose Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Low Risk

Venomous

71 cm (28 in) 

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin


Southern Hognose Snake

Heterodon simus

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

35.5–61 cm (14-24 in)

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee


Prairie Kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligaster

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

76–102 cm (30–40 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Wisconsin


Common Kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

90– 122 cm (35–48 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • NewJersey
  • NewMexico
  • NewYork
  • NorthCarolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • SouthCarolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • WestVirginia


Coachwhip

Masticophis flagellum

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

42-60 in (107-152 cm)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas


Mississippi Green Water Snake

Nerodia cyclopion

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

50–95 cm (20–37 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Tennessee
  • Texas

Plainbelly Water Snake


Plainbelly Water Snake

Nerodia erythrogaster

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

76–122 cm (24–40 in)

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia


Diamondback Water Snake

Nerodia rhombifer

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

76–122 cm (30–48 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas


Northwestern Garter Snake

Thamnophis ordinoides

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

33–97cm (13–38 in)

  • California
  • Oregon


Brown Water Snake

Nerodia taxispilota

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

76–152 cm (30–60 in)

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Arkansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee


Rough Green Snake

Opheodrys aestivus

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

59–81 cm (22 – 32 in)

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia


Pine Woods Snake

Rhadinaea flavilata

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

25–33 cm (10–13 in)

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Louisiana
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina


Queen Snake

Regina septemvittata

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

17–23 cm (7–9 in)

  • Alabama
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin


Black neck Garter Snake

Thamnophis cyrtopsis

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

107 cm (42 in)

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • Utah


Redbelly Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

4–10 cm (10–25 in)

  • All States except Alaska & Hawaii


Southeastern Crowned Snake

Tantilla coronata

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

20–25 cm (8-10 in) 

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia


Plains Garter Snake

Thamnophis radix

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

38–71 cm (15–28 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin


Eastern Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis sauritus

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

41–89 cm (16–35 in)

  • Alabama
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin


Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

55–137 cm (22–54 in)

  • All States except Alaska & Hawaii


Lined Snake

Tropidoclonion lineatum

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

50–95 cm (20–37 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas


Rough Earth Snake

Virginia striatula

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

18–25 cm (7–10 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia


Smooth Earth Snake

Virginia valeriae

Low Risk

Nonvenomous

18–25 cm (7–10 in)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia

For a full list of every venomous and nonvenomous snake found in the USA, check out my full article: Identity 130+ Snake Species From The USA (With Images)