| 1 | Northern watersnake |
Maximum length: 149.9cm.
The northern watersnake also featured in our “vicious non-venomous snakes” article, and that’s because they have a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Personality. This species averages at 70cm, and is particularly abundant in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York state. They derive 95% of their calories from fish, including sunfish, trout and minnows alike.
Northern watersnakes appear in lakes and wide, fast-flowing rivers. On one hand, they won’t hesitate to bite savagely if manhandled. Their teeth are razor sharp like a serrated knife, yet if possible, they’d much rather flee at high speeds. A scared northern watersnake can flee so far that they don’t stop until the opposite river shore.
In 2011, this was proven, in a study comparing them to their northern US river neighbours. While the eastern ribbon snake and common garter snake generally stayed still when threatened, relying on their camouflage, the northern watersnake fled like a speedboat.
If they do escape, then you won’t see them for a while, as northern watersnakes can hold their breath for 90 minutes underwater. Then they must surface for oxygen, but this gulp of air can take just 2 seconds. It’s blink and you’ll miss it, even with binoculars.
| 2 | Red whipsnake |
Maximum length: 100cm.
A common species in southern Thailand, which is common in forests and forest edge environments. Red whipsnakes measure up to 1 metre, and aren’t actually red, more of a copper brown, with round pupils. This is a diurnal snake rather than nocturnal, and an active explorer, unlike the lazy green pitvipers nearby.
Because of their active personality, red whipsnakes regularly encounter humans. Bites are a strong possibility, as they have vicious teeth and a rapid lunge. But they much prefer to flee, forget about that area, and find a newer, safer one to explore instead. Red whipsnakes don’t care about battle pride – they’d rather just escape and get on with their day.
The red whipsnake (Dryophiops rubescens) is widespread, also appearing peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. One feature of this snake is its incredibly narrow neck, and indeed its narrow body width. This is one of Thailand’s thinnest snakes, and probably the thinnest snake which isn’t a tree-dweller, which require lighter bodies in order to balance on branches.
The red whipsnake’s thinness has a different purpose – blasting away in milliseconds, disappearing into the undergrowth like a mirage. Bulky snakes are usually more cumbersome, and unable to flee as rapidly, although this video of an African rock python fleeing down a hillside is a good exception.
| 3 | Northwestern garter snake |
Maximum length: 96.5cm.
One of the USA’s endless garter snake species, many of which look similar. The northwestern garter snake is one of the least famous, and inhabits two US states: western Washington and northwest Oregon, as well as southwest British Columbia. Northwestern garter snakes (Thamnophis ordinoides) are one of the least aquatic members, as they still appear in ponds, but are more common in woodlands and bushy fields.
A cornered northwestern garter snake won’t hang around to chat – they’ll probably just flee into the undergrowth, never to be seen again. This species has no weapons, no corrosive venom or jagged fangs, and it knows it.
There’s a weird colour quirk with this species too. Scientists have discovered that while striped forms of Thamnophis ordinoides flee straight ahead, in a no-nonsense style, the spotted morphs dart to the side. They then remain completely still and rely on their camouflage.
Northwestern garter snakes prey on earthworms and slugs, such as Pacific banana slugs. This species is very difficult to distinguish from the common garter snake, which they overlap with in Washington and British Columbia. One problem is that both have numerous color morphs, but a consistent feature is that northwestern garter snakes have narrower heads, with smaller eyes. See the “identification tip” on this page for a great comparison image.
| 4 | Striped whipsnake |
Maximum length: 199cm.
A widespread species of the US mid-west, part of the same Masticophis genus as the mighty coachwhip. Striped whipsnakes are abundant in Nevada, Utah, eastern California and New Mexico. Relative to their length, they’re exceptionally thin, and this grants them exceptional speed, unlike the bulky Great Basin rattlesnake they coexist with.
Striped whipsnakes (Mastochops taeniatus) are flexible, inhabiting woodlands and open dry fields, usually with dry vegetation nearby which they can escape into. When confronted with humans, they’ll hiss, make mock strikes, and then suddenly flee at a million miles per hour.
Once they start, they’re off like a racehorse out of the gates. The striped whipsnake can go from 0mph to full flight in the blink of an eye. There’s no gradual acceleration. No human being has fast enough reactions of catch a striped whipsnake; if you leapt out at them, you’d end up with a faceful of dirt.
Striped whipsnakes primarily feed on lizards, which they grab and shove down manually, without bothering to use venom or constriction. Their cousin the coachwhip can also disappear in mere milliseconds.
| 5 | Spotted harlequin snake |
Maximum length: 65cm.
This hyper colourful species is found mainly in South Africa, as well as the tiny landlocked nation of Lesotho. The spotted harlequin snake has no power to harm human beings, despite its mesmerising patterns, which look like a deadly venom is pulsating through every inch of their body.
This specie is usually found under cover objects, such as logs, rocks and wood choppings. Their patterns vary immensely, and the goal of their bright colours is to shock predators into fleeing when people lift up their rocks. If this fails, then it’s their turn to flee instead. Rather than attacking, the striped harlequin snake will dash for cover, to find a new rock or log.
This species avoids dense forests, but loves woodlands, moist savannahs and shrubby fynbo slopes. They not only flee rapidly, but plan ahead, as they enhance their flight potential by living in habitats with shrubby, bushy vegetation. This allows them to disappear into cover in a flash, rather than be stranded in open grassy fields.
Spotted harlequin snakes ordinarily move slowly, but are fully capable of revving into action. This snake belongs to the 2-member Homoroselaps genus, the second being the far rarer striped harlequin snake.
| 6 | Greater green snake |
Maximum length: 130cm.
This 70-90cm species lives in southern China, northern Laos, Vietnam, and particularly Hong Kong. The greater green snake (Ptyas mjor) preys heavily on earthworms, and is well trained at sucking them out of soft soils. They’re found in grassy fields, parks, woods – anywhere that supports this slimy earthworm prey.
Greater green snakes are very fast, and more than capable tree climbers. But when faced with a human being, their confidence fades. Greater green snakes aren’t equipped for attacking large animals, as their energies are focussed purely towards slimy soil creatures. They lack venom, or unusually vicious front teeth.
When you approach a greater green snake, they will almost always lose their nerve and flee rapidly into the bushes. They have no stomach for a fight, and lack the killer instinct needed to attack. They rarely use intimidation tactics, such as hissing, and lack viper-mimicking patterns. So the greater green snake only has one option left – darting away and never being seen again. Fortunately, they do this well, with a whip-like speed which barely seems possible for a creature with no arms and legs.
| 7 | Painted marsh snake |
Maximum length: 62.7cm.
Ecuador is full of snake species that nobody has heard of, and the western slopes of the Andes are like an alien satellite that crash landed on Earth, spilling its creatures out into the surrounding forests. Tropical lightbulb lizards are one reptile endemic to Ecuador, and then there’s their predator: the painted marsh snake. This is a non-venomous species measuring 50-60cm, which is non-aggressive towards humans.
Painted marsh snakes move by day, and favour forests, but also appear in rural gardens. They’re only found above 1600 metres, and are missing from flatter coastal areas.
To find this species, you must drive deep into the Andes foothills, drawn on by the first towering peaks in the distance. Once you find one, you’ll have just seconds to make it official, as painted marsh snakes default to rapid flight when encountering humans. They flee into the undergrowth when spooked, rather than bothering to wait around and assess the predator.
Painted marsh snakes are fairly common in northern Ecuador, where one of their neighbours is the Ecuador ringed tree boa. Even photographing this species is a skillful accomplishment, let alone touching one.
| 8 | Brown forest cobra |
Maximum length: 269cm.
Few people could bump into a wild cobra without feeling a spike of fear, but brown forest cobras (Naja subfulva) are one of the more dodgeable of the family. This species is the longest cobra of southern Africa, often exceeding 2.5 metres. They were originally part of the main forest cobra species, but separated along with 2 other species in 2018, simultaneously creating 3 new cobras at once.
Brown forest cobras inhabit Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, and are mainly brown, while darkening lower down until an almost fully black tail. Their venom is lethal, with a mixture of potent neurotoxins and cytotoxins, which disable brain signals and assault skin tissue respectively.
That said, this species is considered to be one of the shier cobras in Africa. They still rear up, hiss and form a narrow hood, but tend to flee rather than flight, unless cornered against a brick wall.
Brown forest cobras also stray to human habitation significantly less than their neighbour the cape cobra. They’re more common in forests and savannah woodlands, appearing near bushy vegetation rather than open grassland. Despite being relatively likely to flee, always remember – this is still a cobra with all its grim reaper tendencies.
| 9 | Green watersnake |
Maximum length: 96cm.
A semi-aquatic species of Tanzania, Mozambique and eastern South Africa, which has never killed a human, and rarely even attacks. The green watersnake measures 50-60cm, and appears in lakes and ponds, sticking to the overgrown grassy edges where they can easily blend in. They’re excellent swimmers, but can skillfully weave up tree trunks as well.
Green watersnakes (Philothamnus hoplogaster) often inhabit ponds close to walking trails, and if you meet one, they’ll probably stay still at first, hoping to blend in. Then it gets unpredictable. You might keep on walking, allowing the snake to stay still, then slowly slither away once the coast is clear. But only a slight movement could cause the green watersnake to blast into the water, dive into the depths and completely disappear.
This species mainly preys on frogs, and is sometimes confused with the green mamba, but is significantly shorter. If your local pond or lake is full of green watersnakes, then you might be seeing the same individuals for years on end, without realising it. You might write it off as “just another green snake” when in reality, it was the exact same snake which spooked your dog 5 years earlier.
| 10 | Korean ratsnake |
Maximum length: at least 195cm.
A non-venomous snake of the Korean peninsular and southern China. This species measures 150-180cm, and eats a diet heavy in rodents.
Korean ratsnakes (Elaphe anomola) would have a painful bite if they possessed the concentration to wield it, but instead, all their instincts are geared towards fleeing. This keeper found that when he entered the room, his Korean ratsnakes instantly hid below cork-bark within their terrarium. In the wild, they’ll give up the fight and dash to the safety of a forest, or a heavily vegetated riverside.
The Korean ratsnake has a high perception of danger, and prefers to flee to guarantee its safety. It might then hide in a hollow log or burrow, before trying again the next day. This snake was once a subspecies of the Russian ratsnake (Elaphe shrenkii), before being elevated to a full species.
Non-venomous snakes don’t always flee as a rule. For example, the white-bellied ratsnake of Thailand freezes when approached, attempting to blend in. UK grass snakes attempt to hide their heads in their coils. But frantic flight is another option available to non-venomous snakes. Those who choose it become gradually more proficient over time; hence why Korean ratsnakes can disappear in what feels like milliseconds.