Solid-Colored SnakesSolid-Colored SnakesSolid-Colored Snakes
ID Guide
Austin-Area Solid-colored Snakes |
Solid-colored snakes are snakes without any markings. On some species, the color may be darker on the head and neck and become lighter on the back part of the body. | ![]() |
Austin-Area
Solid-colored
Snakes
Solid-colored snakes are snakes without any markings. On some species, the color may be darker on the head and neck and become lighter on the back part of the body.

Eastern Yellow Belly Racer
(Coluber Constrictor Flaviventris - wiki)
Eastern Yellow Belly Racer adults average 3 to 4 feet in length.
Adults are olive to light green on top with a yellow belly. Juveniles are blotched patterned with a brown or gray background. They feed on reptiles and sometimes rodents and birds. When they are in the tall grass, they tend to hold their head high up above the grass for observation.
Eastern Yellow Belly Racer
(Coluber Constrictor Flaviventris - wiki)
Eastern Yellow Belly Racer adults average 3 to 4 feet in length.
Adults are olive to light green on top with a yellow belly. Juveniles are blotched patterned with a brown or gray background. They feed on reptiles and sometimes rodents and birds. When they are in the tall grass, they tend to hold their head high up above the grass for observation.
Rough Earth Snake
(Haldea striatula - wiki)
The Rough Earth Snake is a small, dark brown snake usually less than one foot in length.
They like gardens and cultivated soil where they can find their principal diet, earthworms.
Rough Earth Snake
(Haldea striatula - wiki)
The Rough Earth Snake is a small, dark brown snake usually less than one foot in length.
They like gardens and cultivated soil where they can find their principal diet, earthworms.
Rough Green Snake
(Opheodrys Aestivus - wiki)
Rough Green Snake adults and young are green in color.
They feed on spiders, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and crickets. They are usually found near water or damp woodlands and grass areas.
Rough Green Snake
(Opheodrys Aestivus - wiki)
Rough Green Snake adults and young are green in color.
They feed on spiders, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and crickets. They are usually found near water or damp woodlands and grass areas.
Texas Blind Snake
(Rena dulcis - wiki)
Texas Blind Snake adults average only 8 to 10 inches in length and the juveniles are as small as 2 1/2 inches.
These snakes look like big earthworms with tongues! These snakes feed on ant and termite larvae and they tend to live mostly underground. In the spring before the hot weather arrives I receive dozens of calls from people who have found baby blind snakes in their homes, usually in their kitchen or their bathroom. They probably come in from outside by following the water pipes. Caulking the places under the sinks where the pipes come through the wall, and should stop them. They are commonly found in driveways and on sidewalks after rain. When the temperature outside gets hot, they will stop wanting to come indoors. But if you do find them in your home, it's a good idea to toss them outside in your yard in some shady place, since everything that they eat is something that you really don't want around your house!
Texas Blind Snake
(Rena dulcis - wiki)
Texas Blind Snake adults average only 8 to 10 inches in length and the juveniles are as small as 2 1/2 inches.
These snakes look like big earthworms with tongues! These snakes feed on ant and termite larvae and they tend to live mostly underground. In the spring before the hot weather arrives I receive dozens of calls from people who have found baby blind snakes in their homes, usually in their kitchen or their bathroom. They probably come in from outside by following the water pipes. Caulking the places under the sinks where the pipes come through the wall, and should stop them. They are commonly found in driveways and on sidewalks after rain. When the temperature outside gets hot, they will stop wanting to come indoors. But if you do find them in your home, it's a good idea to toss them outside in your yard in some shady place, since everything that they eat is something that you really don't want around your house!
Texas Brown Snake
(Storeria Dekayi Texana - wiki)
Texas Brown Snake adults average 12 inches in length.
Adults and young are reddish brown-colored bodies with dark brown spots around the eyes. They feed primarily on slugs and earthworms. They can be found in moist flowerbeds, gardens, and moist woodlands.
Texas Brown Snake
(Storeria Dekayi Texana - wiki)
Texas Brown Snake adults average 12 inches in length.
Adults and young are reddish brown-colored bodies with dark brown spots around the eyes. They feed primarily on slugs and earthworms. They can be found in moist flowerbeds, gardens, and moist woodlands.
Western Coachwhip
(Masticophis flagellum testaceus - wiki)
The Western Coachwhip is a large, slender snake averaging 4 to 6 feet in length.
They range in color from solid brown or solid tan to wide brown and tan bands. They can move very quickly and feed on reptiles, rodents, and birds. If cornered they can raise the front one-third of their bodies off the ground and they will bite, although they aren't venomous. They will also 'play dead' sometimes by hiding their head under their coils or under the ground to avoid seeing you. When they are in the tall grass, they tend to hold their head high up above the grass for observation. These snakes are diurnal (active in the daytime).
Western Coachwhip
(Masticophis flagellum testaceus - wiki)
The Western Coachwhip is a large, slender snake averaging 4 to 6 feet in length.
They range in color from solid brown or solid tan to wide brown and tan bands. They can move very quickly and feed on reptiles, rodents, and birds. If cornered they can raise the front one-third of their bodies off the ground and they will bite, although they aren't venomous. They will also 'play dead' sometimes by hiding their head under their coils or under the ground to avoid seeing you. When they are in the tall grass, they tend to hold their head high up above the grass for observation. These snakes are diurnal (active in daytime).
Western Cottonmouth
(Agkistrodon Piscivorus Leucostoma - wiki)
The Western Cottonmouth is a heavy-bodied snake averaging 2 to 3 feet in length.
Adult coloration can be almost all black, with a little bit of brown, or they can appear as black and brown-banded. The juvenile pattern is much more pronounced with the tip of the tail a greenish-yellow. This snake isn't common in the Austin area. I've never seen one here in Travis County, but I get a lot of calls from people who think that they have seen one, and it has always been a water snake. They have never been recorded in Williamson County.
The Cottonmouth likes slow-moving water or quiet ponds without a lot of human activity, they feed on frogs, fish, rodents, and birds. They like to sit very still and blend into their surroundings. If bothered, they will first try to get away, but if cornered they will be open their mouth and gape, showing their characteristic white mouth. Most snakes have a white mouth, so this is not a way to identify this snake. When sitting in the water, they float on the top of the water. They hold their head elevated, with their body and tail also on top of the water.
Juveniles have a distinctive banding pattern and, like copperheads, a bright green tail tip. As they get older, they tend to darken up, losing much of this banding pattern and becoming almost solid-colored, and losing the green color on the tail.
Western Cottonmouth
(Agkistrodon Piscivorus Leucostoma - wiki)
The Western Cottonmouth is a heavy-bodied snake averaging 2 to 3 feet in length.
Adult coloration can be almost all black, with a little bit of brown, or they can appear as black and brown-banded. The juvenile pattern is much more pronounced with the tip of the tail a greenish-yellow. This snake isn't common in the Austin area. I've never seen one here in Travis County, but I get a lot of calls from people who think that they have seen one, and it has always been a water snake. They have never been recorded in Williamson County.
The Cottonmouth likes slow-moving water or quiet ponds without a lot of human activity, they feed on frogs, fish, rodents, and birds. They like to sit very still and blend into their surroundings. If bothered, they will first try to get away, but if cornered they will be open their mouth and gape, showing their characteristic white mouth. Most snakes have a white mouth, so this is not a way to identify this snake. When sitting in the water, they float on the top of the water. They hold their head elevated, with their body and tail also on top of the water.
Juveniles have a distinctive banding pattern and, like copperheads, a bright green tail tip. As they get older, they tend to darken up, losing much of this banding pattern and becoming almost solid-colored, and losing the green color on the tail.