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What Colors Are Snakes?

Snakes are found on nearly every continent in the world in an array of colors. Sometimes those colors are vibrant, while for some dull-colored species the need to blend in to their environment is essential. No matter what shade or color combination a snake has, each snake's color is key to its survival as both hunter and prey. The most common snake colors are black, green, brown and yellow.

Black
- Black snakes are often seen in the United States and are usually harmless to humans.
  
  Black snakes can appear ominous but are not always poisonous. One of the most common black snakes in the United States is the black rat snake. It does have some white showing between its scales. The dark color helps the snakes remain unnoticeable to prey when hiding in dark holes or in trees. Another common nonpoisonous black snake is the black racer. The poisonous cottonmouth snake is born lighter but gets darker as it ages to a nearly black color.
Green
- Green snakes can often be found in trees or in thick vegetation.
  
  Green is another common color for snakes, especially those that live and hunt in thick vegetation. The smooth green snake and the rough green snake can be found in the United States. The smooth green snake has a light yellow belly and no pattern. The rough green snake looks similar except they are keeled, meaning there is a rough ridge that runs down the middle of each scale. Green mambas are poisonous and make their homes in the forests of Africa.
Brown
- The desert death adder is one of Australia's many poisonous brown snakes.
  
  Brown-colored snakes can be found in deserts and forests. Two of the most recognizable are the copperhead and rattlesnake. Both are poisonous and have recognizable scale patterns. Brown snakes are not poisonous but are often killed when mistaken for copperheads. The amethyst python of Australia is another nonpoisonous snake that can grow up to 16 feet. They have been known to eat wallabies. The desert death adder is one of Australia's poisonous desert snakes that is a light reddish-brown
Yellow
- Yellow is a more unusual snake color. The yellow rat snake makes its home in the southern region of the United States. They are arboreal, meaning they hunt and live in trees. Much of the time a yellow-colored snake is genetically an albino, meaning the reptile's scales do not have any pigment. Albino corn snakes are often offered for sale in pet stores.
Other Colors
- Snakes can often be multicolored. The king snake and coral snake both have red, yellow and black bands. The yellow-bellied sea snake is black on top and bright yellow on its belly. The endangered San Francisco garter snake has black, blue and red stripes that run down the length of its body. About the only color not found on any snake species' scales is purple.

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