VAPAGuide - Find terrestrial venomous snake by morphology (regional)

Find terrestrial venomous snake by morphology (regional)

Select the snake family or subfamily and your current world region. If you don't know the family/subfamily, go to the "Find terrestrial snake by morphology (general)" page and follow the instructions.

Selection


Elapids	Pit Vipers

Morphological identification key

Crotalinae

Is there a "rattle" or a knob-like projection on the end of the tail?	yes	Are there several enlarged shields on the top of the head (generally 9, sometimes 11)?	yes	Sistrurus catenatus, Crotalus ravus
no		no

		Crotalus sp. (excluding Crotalus ravus)




Are there several enlarged shields on the top of the head (generally 9)?	yes			Agkistrodon sp.

no

Are there protruding, spiky scales underneath the tip of the tail?	yes			Lachesis sp.

no

Are there characteristic markings in the form of open triangles or arrowheads?	yes			Bothrops asper

no

Atropoides sp. Bothriechis sp. Cerrophidion sp. Mixcoaltlus sp. Ophryacus sp. Porthidium sp.