The presence of the Mississippi River, bayou regions and large bodies of water -- Ross Barnett Reservoir and Sardis Lake -- make suitable habitats for nonvenomous water snakes. Nonvenomous water snakes belong to the snake genus Nerodia. Nerodia water snakes have flat heads and swim with most of their body underwater; aquatic venomous snakes swim on the water's surface. The list of Mississippi's water snakes includes Mississippi green, brown, plainbelly, northern and southern water snakes. All of Mississippi's water snakes possess keeled scales, meaning their scales have ridges.
Mississippi is home to three species of rat snakes, the corn, gray rat and black rat snakes. All three rat snake species are members of the Elaphe snake genus. Rat snakes receive their name from the main item of their diet, rats. However, rat snakes will also eat other small mammals, invertebrates and small birds. Black and gray rat snakes have solid black and gray scales, while corn snakes have a red base with copper rings. Adult corn snakes grow up to approximately 5.5 feet, while mature black and gray rat snakes reach lengths of 5 to 6 feet.
Two hognose snakes historically live within Mississippi's boundaries: eastern and southern hognose snakes. Hognose snakes get their name from their upturned snouts. These snakes are also known for playing dead in order to defend themselves. Both eastern and southern hognose snakes belong in the Heterdon genus of snakes. As adults, hognose snakes grow up to approximately 3 feet. In Mississippi, the southern hognose snake population is sparse, and the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Savannah, Georgia, believes it may no longer exist in Mississippi. Eastern hognose snakes are found throughout the state.
Mississippi has a total of nine venomous snake species. Among Mississippi's venomous snake species are five rattlers: eastern diamondback, dusky pigmy, canebrake, Carolina pigmy and western pigmy rattlesnakes. The eastern cottonmouth moccasin, western cottonmouth and southern copperhead round out the list of the Mississippi's venomous snakes. Copperheads, moccasins and rattlesnakes are pit vipers, so called due to the groove between the snakes' eyelids. Eastern coral snakes round out the list of Mississippi venomous snakes. These snakes may be identified by their red-yellow-black color pattern on their skin.