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Snakes in Arizona

The quickest way to know which snakes live in Arizona is to see what people are actually finding. The map below shows recent, verified snakes sightings across Arizona, and the list beneath it is the snakes recorded most often there lately. Most are harmless, and each species page flags whether it is venomous, so you can learn the few worth treating with care. Identify a snake from a distance and from a photo, and never handle one.

Recent research-grade sightings from the iNaturalist community, filtered to snakes across Arizona.

Snakes seen most often in Arizona

Ranked by recent research-grade observations. Tap any species Huck has catalogued for how to identify it, its habitat, and its safety notes.

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
11,816 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
5,993 observations
Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Crotalus molossus
3,306 observations
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
2,895 observations
Long-nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei
2,108 observations
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
1,527 observations
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
1,505 observations
Black-necked Garter Snake
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
1,285 observations
Desert Nightsnake
Hypsiglena chlorophaea
1,136 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
1,093 observations
Tiger Rattlesnake
Crotalus tigris
1,038 observations
Sonoran Whipsnake
Masticophis bilineatus
995 observations
Desert Kingsnake
Lampropeltis splendida
924 observations
Western Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis
921 observations
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Crotalus pyrrhus
854 observations
Desert Coachwhip
Masticophis piceus
831 observations · iNaturalist
Rock Rattlesnake
Crotalus lepidus
822 observations
Arizona Black Rattlesnake
Crotalus cerberus
791 observations
Common Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
735 observations
Sonoran Lyre Snake
Trimorphodon lambda
626 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and the ranking reflects where people record wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily common everywhere in Arizona. Treat this as a live snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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More wildlife in Arizona

All wildlife in ArizonaFrogs in ArizonaTurtles in ArizonaLizards in ArizonaSalamanders in ArizonaOwls in ArizonaButterflies in ArizonaSpiders in ArizonaWildflowers in Arizona

Looking more widely? See snakes near you anywhere in the country.

Common questions

What snakes live in Arizona?

Commonly recorded snakes in Arizona include Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Gopher Snake, Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake, Long-nosed Snake, based on recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. The full list below is ranked by how often each has been seen lately.

Which snakes in Arizona are venomous?

Identify the species rather than relying on folk rules about head or pupil shape. Across the United States the venomous snakes are the rattlesnakes, copperhead, cottonmouth and coral snakes; which of those occur in Arizona varies, and each species page carries a safety note. If someone is bitten, seek medical help immediately.

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