Angel de la Guardia Island Speckled Rattlesnake
As its name indicates, this venomous snake comes from Isla Ángel de la Guardia in the Gulf of Mexico. It can grow up to 137 cm long, while its coloring depends on the age of the specimen in question. Younger specimens tend to have a pink-cinnamon color with brown or dark brown blotches. In contrast, older specimens have a brown or gray color, while retaining the blotches or speckles that give the species its name. This snake likes to live in rocky areas along the shore, with specimens rarely found past 500 meters from the water.
The Ángel de la Guardia Island speckled rattlesnake has a varied diet, feeding on small birds, mammals, and reptiles on its island. Between its home island’s lack of a permanent human presence and protected status, the Ángel de la Guardia Island speckled rattlesnake maintains a large and stable population. This, in turn, has earned it a conservation status of Least Concern.
Aquatic Garter Snake
This non-venomous species of snake takes its name from how it usually lives near freshwater bodies like ponds, streams, and lakes. It’s particularly common in marshy woodland areas with plenty of the aforementioned freshwater bodies.
The aquatic garter snake can grow up to 102 cm long. However, its coloring varies greatly between specimens. Some specimens have a pale gray color with dark blotches along the sides of their bodies. Other specimens have a dark brown color instead, with vague blotches over their bodies. Some specimens may even have a largely-uniform black coloring instead. Many aquatic garter snakes have a yellow stripe running down their backs, or around their necks. In contrast, the aquatic garter snake’s belly tends to have less variation in color, typically a shade of white ranging to yellow.
The aquatic garter snake subsists on a diet of small fish, which it can lure to itself by mimicking insect noises. Unlike many other snakes, the aquatic garter snake doesn’t lay eggs, instead bears live young. On average, they can birth up to 12 young at a time, although they may birth broods of as few as three snakes. The aquatic garter snake has a stable population, giving it the conservation status of Least Concern.
Australian Copperhead
A venomous snake, Australian copperheads actually have mild venom by the standards of their home continent. This means that even a single bite can still deliver enough venom to kill an adult human without immediate medical attention. That said, Australian copperheads usually void humans, and mostly feed on frogs. They also bear live young instead of laying eggs, with broods of up to 14 young. Currently, the Australian copperhead enjoys a conservation status of Least Concern.
Ball Python
Also called the royal python, this non-venomous snake ranges across West and Central Africa. It gets its common name from its habit of coiling up into a ball whenever it gets stressed or frightened. Together with a docile disposition, the ball python has the reputation of being one of the safest pythons to handle in zoos and nature reserves. It’s also very popular among exotic pet owners worldwide.
The ball python has the distinction of the shortest python in Africa, typically growing up to only around 1.82 meters long. It has a black or dark brown color, marked with light brown blotches down its back and sides. They usually prey on small mammals and birds, with marked preferences for either gender. Males prefer to prey on small birds, while females prefer to prey on small mammals.