Snakes and spiders in Tom Green County, Texas
Tom Green County, home of San Angelo, has 20 snake and 11 spider species on record, from 448 licensed snake and 9 spider records. Venomous species here: the western diamondback rattlesnake, the northern cottonmouth and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Tom Green County?
Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 30 licensed records, 1% of all Texas records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 25 licensed records, 2% of all Texas records of it. The western black widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Tom Green County?
In all, 20 snake species are on the Tom Green County list. The most recorded are the long-nosed snake (41), the plain-bellied watersnake (39) and the Texas blind snake (35).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 41 | 6% |
| 2 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 39 | 2% |
| 3 | Texas blind snake Rena dulcis | 35 | 4% |
| 4 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 30 | 1% |
| 5 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 30 | 1% |
| 6 | Checkered garter snake Thamnophis marcianus | 26 | 1% |
| 7 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 26 | 2% |
| 8 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 25 | 2% |
| 9 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 25 | 2% |
| 10 | Flathead snake Tantilla gracilis | 22 | 2% |
| 11 | Plains black-headed snake Tantilla nigriceps | 22 | 5% |
| 12 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 20 | 1% |
| 13 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 14 | 1% |
| 14 | Chihuahuan night snake Hypsiglena jani | 13 | 2% |
| 15 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 13 | 1% |
| 16 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 10 | 2% |
| 17 | Plains hog-nosed snake Heterodon nasicus | 8 | 3% |
| 18 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 7 | 1% |
| 19 | Desert kingsnake Lampropeltis splendida | — | — |
| 20 | Great Plains rat snake Pantherophis emoryi | — | — |
What spiders are in Tom Green County?
In all, 11 spider species are on the Tom Green County list. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope (2), the banded garden spider (1) and the bold jumper (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 2 | 0% |
| 2 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 1 | 0% |
| 3 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 1 | 0% |
| 4 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 1 | 0% |
| 5 | Colonus hesperus | — | — |
| 6 | Hogna antelucana | — | — |
| 7 | Phidippus texanus | — | — |
| 8 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | — | — |
| 9 | Texas black spot tarantula Aphonopelma armada | — | — |
| 10 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | — | — |
| 11 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | — | — |
Common in Texas, not on the Tom Green County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: the rough earthsnake (1,448 statewide), the eastern copperhead (1,188 statewide) and the DeKay's brown snake (1,037 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 Texas, these do not reach the county list: the green lynx spider (864 statewide), the spiny-backed orbweaver (751 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (669 statewide), the striped lynx spider (579 statewide), the familiar jumping spider (518 statewide) and Cicurina varians (514 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Tom Green County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead and the broad-banded copperhead are on the Texas list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake and the diamondback water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake, the plains hog-nosed snake and the Great Plains rat snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the Texas coral snake is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the long-nosed snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider.
Tom Green County among Texas counties
By licensed snake records Tom Green County ranks 19th of 254 Texas counties with any.
Other Texas counties with their own page: Travis County, Brewster County, Harris County, Brazos County, El Paso County, Jeff Davis County, Val Verde County and Bexar County.
The whole state: venomous species in Texas, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.