List of snakes of Illinois


known to be found in the U.S. state of Illinois. Conservation concerns and listed statuses come from the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board's February 2011 Checklist of endangered and threatened animals and plants of Illinois and the Illinois Natural History Survey's website.
ImageScientific nameCommon nameFamilyVenomousConservation
concern
Agkistrodon contortrix contortrixsouthern copperheadViperidaeYesLocally abundant
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasennorthern copperhead
highland moccasin
ViperidaeYesLocally abundant
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostomawestern cottonmouth
water moccasin
ViperidaeYesLocally abundant
Carphophis amoenus helenaemidwestern worm snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Carphophis vermismidwestern worm snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Clonophis kirtlandiiKirtland's snakeColubridaeNoState Threatened
Cemophora coccinea copeinorthern scarlet snakeColubridaeNoCurrent existence in IL uncertain. Single specimen vouchered in 1942.
Coluber constrictor foxiiblue racerColubridaeNo
Coluber constrictor priapussouthern black racerColubridaeNoLocally common
Crotalus horridustimber rattlesnake
canebrake rattlesnake
ViperidaeYesState Threatened
Diadophis punctatus arnyiprairie ringneck snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Diadophis punctatus edwardsiinorthern ringneck snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Diadophis punctatus stictogenysMississippi ringneck snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Farancia abacura reinwardtiiwestern mud snakeColubridaeNoRarely seen
Heterodon nasicus gloydidusty hognose snakeColubridaeNo
Heterodon nasicus nasciusplains hognose snakeColubridaeNoState Threatened
Heterodon platirhinoseastern hognose snakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Lampropeltis calligaster calligasterprairie kingsnakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Lampropeltis getula holbrookispeckled kingsnakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Lampropeltis getula nigerblack kingsnakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Lampropeltis triangulum triangulumeastern milk snakeColubridaeNoNot commonly seen
Lampropeltis triangulum syspilared milk snakeColubridaeNoNot commonly seen
Masticophis flagellum flagellumeastern coachwhipColubridaeNoState Endangered
Nerodia cyclopionMississippi green water snakeColubridaeNoState Threatened
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigasteryellowbelly water snakeColubridaeNo
Nerodia erythrogaster neglectacopperbelly water snakeColubridaeNo"protected as though it were listed in Illinois"
Nerodia fasciata confluensbroad-banded water snakeColubridaeNoState Endangered
Nerodia rhombiferdiamondback water snakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Nerodia sipedon pleuralismidland water snakeColubridaeNo
Nerodia sipedon sipedonnorthern water snakeColubridaeNoAbundant
Opheodrys aestivusrough green snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Opheodrys vernalissmooth green snakeColubridaeNoNot abundant
Pantherophis emoryiGreat Plains ratsnakeColubridaeNoState Endangered
Pantherophis spiloidesgray ratsnakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Pantherophis vulpinaWestern fox snakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Pituophis catenifer sayigophersnake
bullsnake
ColubridaeNoLocally common
Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucusnorthern pine snakeColubridaeNo
Regina grahamiiGraham's crayfish snakeColubridaeNoWidespread but uncommon
Regina septemvittataqueen snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Sistrurus catenatus catenatusEastern massasaugaViperidaeYes
Storeria dekayi wrightorummidland brown snake
De Kay's brown snake
ColubridaeNoCommon
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculatanorthern redbelly snakeColubridaeNoLocally abundant
Tantilla gracilisflat-headed snakeColubridaeNoState Threatened
Thamnophis proximus proximuswestern ribbon snakeColubridaeNoLocally common
Thamnophis radixplains ribbon snakeColubridaeNoCommon in north half of state
Thamnophis sauritus saurituseastern ribbon snakeColubridaeNoState Threatened
Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalisnorthern ribbon snakeColubridaeNo
Thamnophis sirtalis semifasciatusChicago garter snakeColubridaeNo
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtaliscommon garter snakeColubridaeNoCommon
Tropidoclonion lineatum lineatumnorthern lined snakeColubridaeNoState Threatened
Virginia valeriae eleganswestern earth snakeColubridaeNo