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How many kinds of
poisonous snakes are
found in Texas?
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6/10/2014
How many kinds of
poisonous snakes are
found in Texas?
ZERO!
What is the
difference
between venom
& poison???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJ4_xRfxpA&list=PLJicmE8fK0Eh88ix1co6RG4pDcRjpaPj4&feature=share&index=11
If you bite it & it makes you sick, it’s poisonous.
If it bites you & makes you sick, it’s venomous.
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15 Species of Venomous Snakes
in Texas
A. Cottonmouth (1)
B. Rattlesnake (10)
C. Coral Snake (1)
D.Copperhead (3)
Texas Coral Snake
Micrurus fulvius tener
VENOMOUS
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http://youtu.be/n5-L8-3kT_U
Texas Coral Snake
-
Shy
Docile
Hunt during day
Like to eat lizards & other snakes
Lay eggs
Found in Navarro County
 Google “Micrurus lemniscatus”
 What is the common name of this snake?
 Does the rhyme work south of Texas??
http://youtu.be/eTRmjkFwKBE
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Western Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
VENOMOUS
Water Moccasin
Western Cottonmouth
-
Does not have to be found near water
Heavy-bodied
Can be aggressive
Will vibrate tail & open mouth when threatened
Live birth
Found in Navarro County
http://youtu.be/WmHtaqGY784
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Western Cottonmouth
“Raccoon Mask”
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Western Cottonmouth – juvenile
Brightly colored tail
 Google “caudal luring”
http://vimeo.com/36010097
Southern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix
Look for Hershey kiss shapes
down sides of body
VENOMOUS
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Southern Copperhead – juvenile
Brightly colored tail
Trans Pecos
Broad-banded
3 copperhead species
found in Texas
Southern Copperhead
found in Navarro
County
Southern
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Southern Copperhead
- Most common venomous
snake in Navarro County
- Least venomous of harmful
species we have here
- Will freeze to camouflage with
their surroundings
- Will vibrate tail when
threatened
- Live birth
http://youtu.be/IC3nZkLL_yU
8 day old copperhead bite
No medical attention sought
Man’s lower leg
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A lot of copperhead bites occur when people are
walking in sandals & step on the snake.
If you are bit by a pit viper, there will be fang
marks & the venom with “burn”.
Death from copperhead bites are rare.
Rattlesnakes
10 species in Texas
VENOMOUS
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Texas Rattlesnakes
10 species in Texas
Only 1 in Navarro County
1.Western Pygmy Rattlesnake*
2.Western Massasauga
3.Desert Massasauga
4.Canebrake (Timber) Rattlesnake
5.Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake*
6.Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake
7.Prairie Rattlesnake
8.Mojave Rattlesnake
9.Mottle Rock Rattlesnake
10.Banded Rock Rattlesnake
* Historically found in Navarro County
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus atricaudatus
- State threatened (protected)
- Isolated populations in Navarro County along Trinity
River & large creeks
- Will freeze to camouflage with their surroundings
- Live birth – no such thing as rattlesnake eggs!
http://youtu.be/yj8OxHrVk0k
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- Rattle
- Black tail
- Rusty stripe down back
Timber Rattlesnake
Timber Rattlesnake
FM 55
Near Blooming Grove
Western Navarro County
About 4 feet long
Ran over on the road
November 7, 2013
Timber Rattlesnake
FM 636
Near Chatfield/Bazette
Eastern Navarro County
Ran over on the road
September 2012
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Rattlesnakes
Cottonmouth
Copperheads
Are these snakes venomous?
NO
Blotched Water Snakes
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Venomous Snake Bite Symptoms
Signs or symptoms associated with a snake bite may vary
depending on the type of snake, but may include:
• A pair of puncture marks at the wound
• Redness and swelling around the bite
• Severe pain at the site of the bite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Labored breathing (in extreme cases, breathing may
stop altogether)
• Disturbed vision
• Increased salivation and sweating
• Numbness or tingling around your face and/or limbs
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First Aid
YES
NO
•
•
•
•
•
•
Seek medical attention as soon as
possible (dial 911)
Try to remember the color and
shape of the snake, which can help
with treatment of the snake bite.
Keep still and calm. This can slow
down the spread of venom.
Remove jewelry or tight-fitting
clothes.
Apply first aid if you cannot get to
the hospital right away.
– Lay or sit down with the bite
below the level of the heart.
– Wash the bite with soap and
water.
– Cover the bite with a clean, dry
dressing.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do not pick up the snake or try to
trap it.
Do not wait for symptoms to
appear if bitten, seek immediate
medical attention.
Do not apply a tourniquet.
Do not slash the wound with a
knife.
Do not suck out the venom.
Do not apply ice or immerse the
wound in water.
Do not drink alcohol as a
painkiller.
Do not drink caffeinated
beverages.
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Texas Brown Snake
Storeria dekayi texana
http://youtu.be/Bds8P-88kq4
Rough Earth Snake
Virginia striatula
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Texas Rat Snake
Pantherophis obsoletus
http://youtu.be/RtaaZfJqb5E
Prairie Kingsnake
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster
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Southern
Copperhead
Yellowbelly Water Snake
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster
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Blotched Water Snake
Nerodia erythrogaster transversa
Western Cottonmouth
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Broad-banded Water Snake
Nerodia fasciata confluens
http://youtu.be/GMLe2ba-H9Y
Diamondback Water Snake
Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer
http://youtu.be/HLIhK06Qxz4
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Western Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus proximus
http://youtu.be/zRza2UaHSXE
Eastern Hognose
Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
http://youtu.be/tuZtKVM6koo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yuRT9JplC4
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Red touch Yellow!
Texas Coral Snake
Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer
Coluber constrictor flaviventris
Juvenile
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http://youtu.be/A4q-W3Yh-1o
Western Cottonmouth
http://youtu.be/s5UyrfeD0Uc
Eastern Hognose Snake
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Diamondback Water Snake
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
How NOT to Identify a Snake
-
On color alone
By the shape of head
Vibrating of tail
Aggressiveness
Shape of eye pupil
As long as you know
how to ID the 4
harmful ones, you
should be fine.
Texas Parks & Wildlife - Venomous Snakes of Texas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz2TBbl_01A
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Snake Videos
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cottonmouth vs Rattlesnake
Decapitated Snake Surprise
Florida Giant Snake
Color Varieties of Captive Corn Snakes
Python vs Alligator
Rattlesnake vs Hawk
Snake Identification Online
•
•
•
•
•
Herps of Texas
UTA Amphibian & Reptile Diversity Center
Herps of DFW Area
Austin Reptile Service
Houston Herp Supply
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Snake Identification Book Guides
• Texas Snakes: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History Guides)
• Lone Star Field Guide to Texas Snakes (Lone Star Field Guides)
• A Field Guide to Texas Snakes (Field Guide Series)
• Venomous Snakes of Texas: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History
Guides)
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