Snakes and spiders in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Tuscaloosa County, home of Tuscaloosa, has 14 snake and 35 spider species on record, from 137 licensed snake and 359 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the timber rattlesnake, the northern cottonmouth and the southern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Tuscaloosa County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 6 licensed records, 3% of all Alabama records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 6 licensed records, 2% of all Alabama records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 4 licensed records, 2% of all Alabama records of it. The southern black widow: 4 licensed records, 15% of all Alabama records of it.
What snakes are in Tuscaloosa County?
In all, 14 snake species are on the Tuscaloosa County list. The most recorded are the diamondback water snake (29), the northern water snake (14) and the eastern racer (13).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 29 | 19% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 14 | 2% |
| 3 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 13 | 5% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 12 | 5% |
| 5 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 11 | 8% |
| 6 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 9 | 3% |
| 7 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 8 | 4% |
| 8 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 6 | 3% |
| 9 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 6 | 2% |
| 10 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 4 | 3% |
| 11 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 4 | 2% |
| 12 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 2 | 1% |
| 13 | Eastern black kingsnake Lampropeltis nigra | 1 | 1% |
| 14 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 1 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Tuscaloosa County?
Observation records of snakes in Tuscaloosa County run mostly March through November, peaking in May with 20% of them, the same peak as Alabama as a whole.
What spiders are in Tuscaloosa County?
In all, 35 spider species are on the Tuscaloosa County list. The most recorded are the Alabama wandering spider (31), Tigrosa annexa (24) and the orchard orbweaver (23). Tuscaloosa County holds more than half of all Alabama records of the Alabama wandering spider and Tigrosa annexa.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama wandering spider Ctenus hibernalis | 31 | 61% |
| 2 | Tigrosa annexa | 24 | 50% |
| 3 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 23 | 20% |
| 4 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 19 | 6% |
| 5 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 16 | 22% |
| 6 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 15 | 8% |
| 7 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 12 | 13% |
| 8 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 9 | 5% |
| 9 | Featherlegged orbweaver Uloborus glomosus | 9 | 45% |
| 10 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 9 | 27% |
| 11 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 8 | 22% |
| 12 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 7 | 9% |
| 13 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 7 | 30% |
| 14 | Tuftlegged orbweaver Mangora placida | 7 | 16% |
| 15 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 7 | 8% |
| 16 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 6 | 4% |
| 17 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 6 | 26% |
| 18 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 6 | 29% |
| 19 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 5 | 8% |
| 20 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 4 | 10% |
| 21 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | 4 | 10% |
| 22 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 4 | 11% |
| 23 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 4 | 17% |
| 24 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 4 | 15% |
| 25 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 3 | 6% |
| 26 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 3 | 7% |
| 27 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 2% |
| 28 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 3 | 4% |
| 29 | Giant lichen orbweaver Araneus bicentenarius | 2 | 12% |
| 30 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 2 | 12% |
| 31 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 2 | 5% |
| 32 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 2 | 9% |
| 33 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | 1 | 11% |
| 34 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 1 | 4% |
| 35 | Scytodes atlacoya | — | — |
When are spiders out in Tuscaloosa County?
Observation records of spiders in Tuscaloosa County run mostly February through September, peaking in April with 32% of them; across Alabama the peak is May.
What stands out in Tuscaloosa County
Species for which Tuscaloosa County holds a large share of all Alabama records: the Alabama wandering spider, 61% (31 of 51); Tigrosa annexa, 50% (24 of 48); the nursery web spider, 22% (16 of 73); the orchard orbweaver, 20% (23 of 113); the diamondback water snake, 19% (29 of 156).
Common in Alabama, not on the Tuscaloosa County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Alabama, these do not reach the county list: the southern watersnake (252 statewide), the queen snake (188 statewide) and the gray rat snake (169 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Tuscaloosa County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the diamondback water snake, the northern water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider. No recluse spiders reach the county list, but the brown recluse is on the Alabama list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.
Tuscaloosa County among Alabama counties
By licensed snake records Tuscaloosa County ranks 13th of 67 Alabama counties with any.
Other Alabama counties with their own page: Lee County, Baldwin County, Macon County, Mobile County, Jefferson County and Blount County.
The whole state: venomous species in Alabama, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.