There is an endless amount of color and pattern combinations when it comes to snakes, but the contrast of a black and yellow snake is hard to beat.
There are many different species of black and yellow snake, whether this is the natural coloration of the snake or a color mutation that was bred into the snake in captivity.
Bright, contrasting colors can often be an indication that an animal is poisonous or venomous. While some black and yellow snakes are in fact venomous, there are many that are also completely harmless.
It goes without saying, that if you are not 100% sure that a snake is harmless, you should leave it alone. Don’t attempt to pick up or move a snake that you cannot properly identify.
Mangrove Snake (Black Snake With Yellow Stripes)
The Mangrove Snake in native to South-East Asia and belongs to the colubrid family of snakes. It is actually rear-fanged venomous, but the venom is not medically significant to humans.
It can be found throughout most of South-East Asia in countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. It can also be found on many if the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines.
Funnily enough, the Mangrove Snake is more commonly found in lowland rainforests as opposed to in Mangrove Swamps. However, there are plenty of these swamps in South-East Asia and this is where the snake got its name from.
The Mangrove Snake is a beautiful example of a black and yellow snake. The background color of this snake is black and the yellow is present in the form of a series of stripes that run vertically along the side of the snake.
These stripes can vary greatly with some specimens having short stripes that don’t reach the snakes back while others form the whole way around the snake, creating a yellow band.
The belly of the Mangrove snake can be yellow or black. It can also be a combination of both. The yellow coloration is also present around the snake’s mouth which gives the appearance of yellow lips.
Plains Garter Snake
The Plains Garter Snake is a species of Garter Snake that is native to the United States. It is known for its continuous yellow or orange stripe that runs from its head to its tail.
The Plains Garter Snake can be found throughout much of the Central United States, with its range extending from Southern Canada down as far as Texas.
This snake prefers to live in open fields, meadows and other grassland or prairie type habitats. They are generally found close to a water sources such as lakes, streams and marshes.
The Plains Garter Snake can vary greatly in color but their base color is generally black with a yellow or red stripe running the length of the snakes back. Sometimes, there is also a stripe on either side of the snake while others have white or yellow patterning along their sides.
The typical Plains Garter Snake with a Yellow Stripe running along its back is a perfect example of the beautiful contrasting colors of a black and yellow snake.
Yellow Rat Snake
The Yellow Rat Snake or Chicken Snake as it is sometimes called, is a species of Rat Snake that is native to the South-Eastern United States. It is a member of the colubrid family of snakes.
This Black and Yellow snake can be found in the coastal areas of North Carolina, down into South Carolina and Georgia. It can also be found throughout most of the Florida Peninsula.
These snakes like to climb and can often be found in trees searching for prey. They are common in forests, scrubland, farmland and a wide variety of other habitats.
The Yellow Rat Snake is harmless to humans and plays an important role in the ecosystem. They prey on a variety of animals including small mammals, rodents, frogs, birds and eggs.
The Yellow Rat Snake can be a beautiful example of a Black and Yellow Snake. Their base color is Yellow with 4 black stripes running the length of their body.
However, the color of this snake varies greatly with the yellow sometimes being replaced with an olive or red coloration. The dark stripes can often be brown as well, meaning every specimen is not a black and yellow snake.
Banded Krait
The Banded Krait is a fantastic example of the contrasting colors of a Black and Yellow Snake. It is native to India and South-East Asia and is a member of the Elapid family.
It can be found in many countries including India, Nepal Southern China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. It can also be found throughout much of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
These snakes can be easily identified by their alternating bands of black and yellow than run the entire length of the snake. The Banded Krait can grow to lengths of almost 6 feet.
They have a neurotoxic venom that can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness and abdominal pain. Serious envenomation can cause respiratory failure resulting in death, but this is rare.
Thankfully, bites from a Banded Krait are rarer than many of the other venomous snakes in the region. An antivenom is available to treat a bite from this snake.
Eastern Ribbon Snake
The Eastern Ribbon Snake is a black and yellow snake that is native to the Eastern United States where it lives in a variety of aquatic environments such as ponds, streams, and wetlands.
These snakes are often associated with areas that have an abundance of vegetation and access to water.
They can be found in states such as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and up through the Eastern parts of the United States, reaching as far North as Southern Maine.
This black and yellow snake is relatively small, ranging from 16 to 30 inches or 40 to 76cm in length.
They have a slender body with a black or dark brown background color. They have three long, yellow stripes running the length of their body. One central stripe and a stripe on either side of the snakes body.
Striped Racer – Black and Yellow Snake
The Striped Racer is a black and yellow snake that can be found in North America where its range extends from the Western United States into Northern Mexico.
This snake can be found throughout most of California with their range extending into the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
The types of habitat that the Striped Racer likes includes a variety of environments such as grasslands, deserts, woodlands and scrublands.
The Striped Racer can reach up to 5 feet in length and is known for its slender body. They have distinct lateral stripes running along their sides. These stripes vary in color from yellow to orange.
Mojave Shovelnose Snake
The Mojave Shovelnose Snake is a black and yellow snake found in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada and Arizona. They can also be found in parts of North-Western Mexico.
These snakes are typically found in sandy desert habitats with sparse vegetation.
The Mojave Shovelnose Snake is typically grey or light brown in color with darker brown or black blotches along its back.
This snake is relatively small, usually measuring around 12 to 20 inches in length. It has a distinct shovel-shaped snout, which is where it gets its common name.
Ringneck Snake – Black and Yellow Snake
The Ringneck Snake can be found across much of North America. Its range extends from Southern Canada down to Central America.
Due to their extensive geographical range, these snakes can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and rocky areas.
The Ringneck Snake is a relatively small species, typically growing to around 10 to 15 inches in length. They have smooth scales and a slender body.
The most distinctive feature is a yellow or orange ring around their neck, which contrasts with their dark body coloration, sometimes coming in the form of a black and yellow snake.
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