Texas has two blind snake species, the Texas blind snake and Trans-Pecos blind snake. Both of these snakes are found in the western region of Texas; these snakes prefer dry, arid climates. These snakes are thin and resemble earthworms. Similarly to earthworms, blind snakes burrow underneath the earth's surface and use their sense of smell for hunting and navigation. Common food in a blind snake's diet includes insect larvae and termites. The eyes of blind snakes are underneath their scales, which allows them to move underground without damaging their eyes.
Rat snakes live in grasslands and are important to the earth's ecology and agriculture industry since they help prevent the overpopulation of small rodents, including rats. In Texas, native rat snakes include the eastern rat snake, Great Plains rat snake, corn snake, black rat snake and Baird's rat snake. These snakes are seen throughout the Lone Star State, including the state's panhandle area, eastern region and Big Bend National Park. As adults, the average length of rat snakes ranges from 4 to 5 feet. Rat snakes live in grassland, forests and mountainous habitats.
Water snakes belonging to the Nerodia snake genus are nonvenomous and live in and around aquatic freshwater habitats such as lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps and ponds. As opposed to venomous water snakes -- water moccasins -- Nerodia water snakes swim with most of their bodies in the water; venomous snakes swim with their body on the water's surface. Texas's Nerodia water snake species include the diamondback water snake, southern water snake, gulf salt marsh snake -- the only native Texas saltwater snake -- Mississippi green water snake, Concho water snake, Brazos water snake and plainbelly water snake. Two water snakes -- Brazos and Concho -- are endemic to Texas.
Garter snakes are among the most common snake species in states throughout the United States, including Texas. This species of snakes belongs to the genus Thamnophis. Texas's Thamnophis species are the common garter snake, western ribbon snake, plains garter snake, checkered garter snake and blackneck garter snake. All of Texas's garter snakes may be identified by the stripes on their bodies; the color of garter snakes, which can be orange, red or yellow, depends on the subspecies. Since they eat frogs and fish, garter snakes are found near bodies of fresh water.