Snakes with BlotchesSnakes with BlotchesSnakes with Blotches
ID Guide
Austin-Area Snakes with Blotches |
Blotches are large squarish or irregular-shaped markings, frequently with dark borders. Large rectangular blotches that cross the back resemble crossbands. | ![]() |
Austin-Area
Snakes
with Blotches
Blotches are large squarish or irregular-shaped markings, frequently with dark borders. Large rectangular blotches that cross the back resemble crossbands.

Bullsnake
(Pituophis Catenfer Sayi - wiki)
Bullsnakes are large snakes, averaging 4 to 6 feet in length when mature.
This is now the largest species of snake native to Texas. Record is 9ft, 3 inches!
They have brown blotches that are almost square, on a background of light brown to almost yellow in some cases. This snake is capable of hissing very loudly and they constrict their prey, which consists mostly of rodents and birds.
Bullsnake
(Pituophis Catenfer Sayi - wiki)
Bullsnakes are large snakes, averaging 4 to 6 feet in length when mature.
This is now the largest species of snake native to Texas. Record is 9ft, 3 inches!
They have brown blotches that are almost square, on a background of light brown to almost yellow in some cases. This snake is capable of hissing very loudly and they constrict their prey, which consists mostly of rodents and birds.
Photo by Adam Dawson
Eastern Hognose Snake
(Heterodon Platyrhinos - wiki)
The male Eastern hognose snake averages around 2 feet long, females up to 4 feet.
Easily identified by its upturned snout, it is a very stout-bodied snake with brown blotches on a background that can various shades of red, grey, green, brown, yellow...
This is a very unique snake with unusual defenses. When this NON-VENOMOUS snake is first encountered, it will flare its neck and head so that it somewhat resembles a cobra's hood, and at the same time will hiss very loudly! If this doesn't scare you away, the snake may roll over on its back with its mouth open and 'play dead'. If you roll it back upright, it will flip itself back onto its back, as though insisting that it is dead! They feed almost exclusively on toads.
Eastern Hognose Snake
(Heterodon Platyrhinos - wiki)
The male Eastern hognose snake averages around 2 feet long, females up to 4 feet.
Easily identified by its upturned snout, it is a very stout-bodied snake with brown blotches on a background that can various shades of red, grey, green, brown, yellow...
This is a very unique snake with unusual defenses. When this NON-VENOMOUS snake is first encountered, it will flare its neck and head so that it somewhat resembles a cobra's hood, and at the same time will hiss very loudly! If this doesn't scare you away, the snake may roll over on its back with its mouth open and 'play dead'. If you roll it back upright, it will flip itself back onto its back, as though insisting that it is dead! They feed almost exclusively on toads.
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.
Great Plains Rat Snake
(Pantherophis emoryi - wiki)
Great Plains Rat Snake adults are 3 to 4 feet long.
The Great Plains Rat Snake has large brown blotches on a gray background. The belly has a checkerboard pattern. They feed on rodents and birds. They are not as agile climbers as the Texas Rat Snake. Generally a much calmer snake.
Great Plains Rat Snake
(Pantherophis emoryi - wiki)
Great Plains Rat Snake adults are 3 to 4 feet long.
The Great Plains Rat Snake has large brown blotches on a gray background. The belly has a checkerboard pattern. They feed on rodents and birds. They are not as agile climbers as the Texas Rat Snake. Generally a much calmer snake.
Intergraded Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis Getula Holbrooki x Splendida)
The Intergraded Kingsnake is the product of the overlapping ranges of the Desert Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake here in Central Texas.
It is a black snake with yellow or orange speckling that often forms a chain or blotch pattern on its back. It has the same small head and prey as the Prairie Kingsnake.
Intergraded Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis Getula Holbrooki x Splendida)
The Intergraded Kingsnake is the product of the overlapping ranges of the Desert Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake here in Central Texas.
It is a black snake with yellow or orange speckling that often forms a chain or blotch pattern on its back. It has the same small head and prey as the Prairie Kingsnake.
Plain-bellied Water Snake
(Nerodia erythrogaster - wiki)
Plain-bellied Water Snake adults average 3 feet in length.
The adult Plain-bellied Water Snake has a brown body. with faint lines forming a pattern on its back, while the juvenile has a much more pronounced pattern. Has a pale, solid yellow chin and belly.
When sitting in water, they only expose their head, with the rest of their body and tail below the surface
Plain-bellied Water Snake
(Nerodia erythrogaster - wiki)
Plain-bellied Water Snake adults average 3 feet in length.
The adult Plain-bellied Water Snake has a brown body. with faint lines forming a pattern on its back, while the juvenile has a much more pronounced pattern. Has a pale, solid yellow chin and belly.
When sitting in water, they only expose their head, with the rest of their body and tail below the surface
Prairie Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis Calligaster - wiki)
Prairie Kingsnake adults average 2 to 3 feet long, with coloration that can vary.
Some have dark brown almost oval-shaped blotches on a light gray background, while others have a very dark double row of blotches or even stripes. The head of this snake is small, compared to other large snakes, and the Kingsnake is immune to the venom of the pit vipers. They feed on rodents, birds, and other snakes.
Prairie Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis Calligaster - wiki)
Prairie Kingsnake adults average 2 to 3 feet long, with coloration that can vary.
Some have dark brown almost oval-shaped blotches on a light gray background, while others have a very dark double row of blotches or even stripes. The head of this snake is small, compared to other large snakes, and the Kingsnake is immune to the venom of the pit vipers. They feed on rodents, birds, and other snakes.
Texas Rat Snake
(Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri - wiki)
The Texas Rat Snake is the most common large snake in the Austin area!
The adults are from 4 to 6 feet long.
This snake is often incorrectly called a 'chicken snake', probably because of its fondness for hen's eggs. It is often misidentified for several reasons. This snake will vibrate its tail, and depending on what the tail is hitting against may make a sound that will make you think that you are dealing with a Rattlesnake, even though they have no rattle!
While the juveniles are colored with brown blotches on a gray background, the adult's dark gray to black blotches will be on a red, orange, yellow, or even white background, giving the snake a wide range of possible color combinations. The belly is plain with no patterning. The adults are from 4 to 6 feet long, but I have actually caught one near Zilker Park that was 7'1" long! These snakes will eat any kind of rodent, bird, or bird eggs.
They are excellent climbers and will go into attics and under homes in search of prey. These snakes are very aggressive when cornered or captured. But hey, if your main diet consisted of rats, you'd probably have an attitude problem, too.
The Texas Rat Snake is the ONLY large snake in the Austin-area that climbs!
It commonly climbs trees, sides of buildings, etc.!
These snakes are constrictors and are not venomous!
If you don't have any food for them around your house (rodents), they will tend to stay away or maybe just passing through.
These are some of the most beneficial snakes in the Austin area because of their ability to keep the rodent population down.
They also compete with rattlesnakes for the same food source, hence keeping rattlesnakes away!
Texas Rat Snake
(Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri - wiki)
The Texas Rat Snake is the most common large snake in the Austin area!
The adults are from 4 to 6 feet long.
This snake is often incorrectly called a 'chicken snake', probably because of its fondness for hen's eggs. It is often misidentified for several reasons. This snake will vibrate its tail, and depending on what the tail is hitting against may make a sound that will make you think that you are dealing with a Rattlesnake, even though they have no rattle!
While the juveniles are colored with brown blotches on a gray background, the adult's dark gray to black blotches will be on a red, orange, yellow, or even white background, giving the snake a wide range of possible color combinations. The belly is plain with no patterning. The adults are from 4 to 6 feet long, but I have actually caught one near Zilker Park that was 7'1" long! These snakes will eat any kind of rodent, bird, or bird eggs.
They are excellent climbers and will go into attics and under homes in search of prey. These snakes are very aggressive when cornered or captured. But hey, if your main diet consisted of rats, you'd probably have an attitude problem, too.
The Texas Rat Snake is the ONLY large snake in the Austin-area that climbs!
It commonly climbs trees, sides of buildings, etc.!
These snakes are constrictors and are not venomous!
If you don't have any food for them around your house (rodents), they will tend to stay away or maybe just passing through.
These are some of the most beneficial snakes in the Austin area because of their ability to keep the rodent population down.
They also compete with rattlesnakes for the same food source, hence keeping rattlesnakes away!