WHERE SNAKES LIVEWORLD MAP
Every green cell is a verified sighting shared by iNaturalist's community scientists. Choose a species to see its real-world range, then zoom in for individual records.
BY CONTINENT
Snake diversity around the world
Short answer: Asia has the most snake species, followed by the Americas and Africa. Snake diversity peaks in warm, wet tropical forests and drops sharply toward the poles.
| Continent | Approx. species | Notable venomous | Notable non-venomous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | ~1,400 | King cobra, Russell's viper, common krait | Reticulated python, paradise flying snake |
| Central & South America | ~800 | Fer-de-lance, South American rattlesnake | Green anaconda, emerald tree boa |
| Africa | ~600 | Black mamba, puff adder, Gaboon viper | Ball python, African rock python |
| North America | ~300 | Eastern diamondback, copperhead, cottonmouth | Corn snake, garter snake, kingsnake |
| Australia & Oceania | ~300 | Inland taipan, eastern brown snake | Carpet python, green tree python |
| Europe | ~60 | Common adder, nose-horned viper | Grass snake, Aesculapian snake |
Places with no native snakes
Snakes are cold-blooded and cannot cross wide oceans easily, so cold places and remote islands often have none.
Antarctica
Far too cold for any reptile to survive.
Ireland
Isolated by rising seas after the last Ice Age, before snakes could recolonize.
Iceland & Greenland
Cold climates and ocean isolation keep them snake-free.
New Zealand
No land snakes; sea snakes occasionally wash ashore.
Hawaii
No native land snakes. Owning snakes is illegal to protect native birds.
Alaska
No native snakes have been confirmed in the state.