Snakes and spiders in Monterey County, California
Monterey County, home of Salinas, has 16 snake and 55 spider species on record, from 1,537 licensed snake and 531 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Monterey County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 82 licensed records, 2% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 17 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Monterey County?
In all, 16 snake species are on the Monterey County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (374), the western aquatic garter snake (285) and the gopher snake (231).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 374 | 2% |
| 2 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 285 | 8% |
| 3 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 231 | 3% |
| 4 | Aquatic garter snake Thamnophis atratus | 126 | 3% |
| 5 | Two-striped garter snake Thamnophis hammondii | 105 | 6% |
| 6 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 82 | 2% |
| 7 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 71 | 1% |
| 8 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 60 | 3% |
| 9 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 55 | 2% |
| 10 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 39 | 4% |
| 11 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 37 | 3% |
| 12 | Striped racer Masticophis lateralis | 34 | 3% |
| 13 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 11 | 2% |
| 14 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 8 | 2% |
| 15 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 7 | 1% |
| 16 | Coast nightsnake Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus | — | — |
When are snakes out in Monterey County?
Observation records of snakes in Monterey County run mostly March through October, peaking in April with 20% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Monterey County?
In all, 55 spider species are on the Monterey County list. The most recorded are Steatoda nobilis (38), Aliatypus coylei (22) and the Johnson jumper (17). Monterey County holds more than half of all California records of Metepeira gosoga and Habronattus peckhami.
Related species: Aliatypus janus
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steatoda nobilis | 38 | 2% |
| 2 | Aliatypus coylei | 22 | 45% |
| 3 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 17 | 2% |
| 4 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 17 | 1% |
| 5 | Gray house spider Badumna longinqua | 13 | 4% |
| 6 | Habronattus amicus | 12 | 13% |
| 7 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | 11 | 3% |
| 8 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 11 | 5% |
| 9 | Dysdera crocata | 10 | 2% |
| 10 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 10 | 1% |
| 11 | Metepeira gosoga | 10 | 67% |
| 12 | Pelegrina aeneola | 10 | 10% |
| 13 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 9 | 1% |
| 14 | Habronattus peckhami | 9 | 60% |
| 15 | Northern orb weaver Aculepeira packardi | 9 | 24% |
| 16 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 9 | 1% |
| 17 | Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider Sassacus vitis | 8 | 1% |
| 18 | Colonus hesperus | 8 | 1% |
| 19 | Cyclosa turbinata | 8 | 5% |
| 20 | Habronattus tarsalis | 8 | 4% |
| 21 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | 8 | 3% |
| 22 | Anachemmis linsdalei | 7 | 20% |
| 23 | Drassyllus insularis | 7 | 4% |
| 24 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 7 | 1% |
| 25 | Phidippus kastoni | 7 | 23% |
| 26 | Beach-dwelling jumping spider Terralonus californicus | 6 | 7% |
| 27 | Tawny dwarf tarantula Megahexura fulva | 6 | 7% |
| 28 | West coast laceweaver Callobius severus | 6 | 29% |
| 29 | Phanias albeolus | 5 | 19% |
| 30 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 4 | 1% |
| 31 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 4 | 2% |
| 32 | Schizocosa maxima | 4 | 15% |
| 33 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 4 | 2% |
| 34 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 1% |
| 35 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 3 | 2% |
| 36 | Sierra dome spider Neriene litigiosa | 3 | 4% |
| 37 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 2 | 2% |
| 38 | Habronattus klauseri | 2 | 6% |
| 39 | Habronattus mustaciatus | 2 | 9% |
| 40 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 2 | 0% |
| 41 | Sergiolus montanus | 2 | 3% |
| 42 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 2 | 1% |
| 43 | Araneus andrewsi | 1 | 1% |
| 44 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 1% |
| 45 | California funnel-web spider Calisoga longitarsis | 1 | 1% |
| 46 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | 1 | 0% |
| 47 | Castianeira thalia | 1 | 3% |
| 48 | Diaea livens | 1 | 2% |
| 49 | Phidippus nikites | 1 | 3% |
| 50 | Silver argiope Argiope argentata | 1 | 0% |
| 51 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | — | — |
| 52 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | — | — |
| 53 | Mexigonus morosus | — | — |
| 54 | Segestria pacifica | — | — |
| 55 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Monterey County?
Observation records of spiders in Monterey County run through most of the year, peaking in October with 17% of them; across California the peak is April.
What stands out in Monterey County
Species for which Monterey County holds a large share of all California records: Aliatypus coylei, 45% (22 of 49).
Common in California, not on the Monterey County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the sidewinder (1,923 statewide), the western shovel-nosed snake (1,482 statewide) and the glossy snake (1,425 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the bold jumper (2,606 statewide), the half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178 statewide), Habronattus pyrrithrix (800 statewide) and the brown widow (776 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Monterey County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. Coral snakes are not on the California list, but GBIF holds 3 coral snake records of any license in California (Sonoran coralsnake 3): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the California mountain kingsnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow. No recluse spiders reach the county list, but the desert recluse is on the California list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.
Monterey County among California counties
By licensed snake records Monterey County ranks 13th of 58 California counties with any.
Other California counties with their own page: San Diego County, Lassen County, Shasta County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Humboldt County, Sonoma County and San Mateo County.
The whole state: venomous species in California, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.