Snakes are an integral part of Maryland’s fauna, functioning as important predators. Snakes are limbless reptiles with elongate bodies that are covered with scales. All snakes lack external ear openings and eyelids and have long, forked tongues. Maryland is home to 27 species and sub-species of snakes, including two with medically significant venom, the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. These two species are found in the viper family (Viperidae). The remaining species are in the family Colubridae, which is the largest snake family in the world.
Snake Anatomy
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Snake Family
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Number of Species &
Subspecies in Maryland
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|---|---|
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Viper (Viperidae)
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2
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Colubridae
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25
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Pit Vipers (Subfamily Crotalinae):
There are two species of pit vipers found in Maryland, the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and the eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). Both of these species are dangerously venomous and should be treated with caution. Do not approach or handle these snakes as a bite could be fatal. As the name implies the pit vipers have a heat seeking pit between each eye and nostril. The pit vipers also differ noticeably from the colubrids by having vertical pupils, and undivided subcaudal scales (Conant and Collins 1998). For more information on Maryland’s venomous snakes, please click here. For visuals of snake anatomy features, please click here.
Information courtesy of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. For more information on venomous snakes in Maryland, check out the venomous snakes page. Here is the easy photo guide to common snakes of Maryland. Featured photo is a stock photo of a snake.