Among the nonvenomous snakes of North America, few are as quick to bite as the water snakes of genus Nerodia; however, they are nonvenomous.
Garter snake (genus Thamnophis), any of more than a dozen species of nonvenomous snakes having a striped pattern suggesting a garter: typically, one or three longitudinal yellow to red stripes, between which are checkered blotches.
This evolutionary strategy has been successful for nonvenomous snakes, such as the scarlet king snake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides), whose coloration closely resembles that of coral snakes, which can deliver a poisonous bite.
Among snakes, fer-de-lances (Bothrops), coral snakes (Micrurus), rear-fanged snakes (such as the cat-eyed snakes [Leptodeira]), and certain nonvenomous genera (such as the tropical green snakes [Leptophis]) do not occur north of Central America.
Flying snake, any of five species of nonvenomous snakes constituting the genus Chrysopelea of the family Colubridae.
Australia is the only continent in the world in which venomous snake species outnumber nonvenomous ones.
Hognose snake, (genus Heterodon), any of three species of North American nonvenomous snakes belonging to the family Colubridae.
There are several kinds of viper and a small cobra, as well as a variety of nonvenomous snakes.
Blind snake (superfamily Typhlopoidea), any of several nonvenomous snakes characterized by degenerate eyes that lie beneath opaque head scales.
The largest of the common nonvenomous snakes is probably the keeled rat snake (Ptyas carinatus), at about 3.7 metres (12 feet).
The family Colubridae, which encompasses the majority of the nonvenomous or slightly venomous snakes of the world, is poorly represented in Australia, with fewer than a dozen species.
