Snakes are carnivorous reptiles from the suborder Serpentes. There are more than 3,900 species of snakes globally, with diverse sizes ranging from 10.4 cm to 12.8 meters long. In this post, we have ranked the Top 20+ Rarest snakes in the world according to the conversation status.
Here, we have tried to cover nearly all critically endangered snake species endemic to particular regions. So, without any further ado, let’s discuss the list of rarest snakes globally.
21) Trang Blind Snake and Roxane’s Blind Snake
Scientific NameArgyrophis trangensis & Argyrophis roxaneae
Size20-23.1 cm
Life Span4-20 years
Location Thailand
ToxicityNon-Venomous
Conservation StatusData Deficient
Let’s begin the list of rarest snakes in the world with Trang Blind Snake and Roxane’s Blind Snake. These two snakes are two different species that are incredibly rare.
We mentioned their names at one point because of a lack of information about them. They both are from Typhlopidae family. These two snakes are so rare that they have been seen only one time (when they were discovered). It’s very difficult to find them.
20) Spider-tailed horned viper
Spider-tailed horned viper
Scientific NamePseudocerastes urarachnoides
Size50-53.1 cm
Life Span10-14 years
Location Gilan-e Gharb, Iran
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusNear Threatened
Spider-tailed horned viper, also known as spider snake, is one of the venomous snakes from the family Viperidae (Vipers). It has a unique tail that looks like a spider.
It uses its tail to lure birds, and its rough brown scales with horns provide it with camouflage. These snakes can be found in various regions of Iran.
19) Round Island Boa
Round Island Boa | Credit: Simon J. Tonge (commons.wikimedia) (CC BY 3.0)
Scientific NameCasarea dussumieri
Sizeup to 150 cm
Life Span10-20 years
Location Round Island, Mauritius
ToxicityNon-Venomous
Conservation StatusVulnerable
Round Island boa, also known as the Round Island keel-scaled boa, is a non-venomous snake from the family Bolyeriidae.
Their body is covered with small-keeled scales, and they are primarily active at night. It may grow up to 150 cm and can be found on the islands of Gunner’s Quoin.
18) Alcatrazes lancehead
Scientific NameBothrops alcatraz
Size40-50 cm
Life Span20-25 years
Location Ilha Alcatrazes, São Paulo, Brazil
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusVulnerable
Alcatrazes lancehead is a venomous snake from the species pitviper. The species is categorized under the vulnerable conversation status and can only be found on the southeastern coast of Brazil. They have a petite body size and can grow a maximum of up to 50.5 cm.
17) Bolo Snake
Scientific NameOgmodon vitianus
Size40-50 cm
Life SpanNo Information
Location Viti Levu Island, Republic of Fiji
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusEndangered
Bolo Snake, also known as Fiji Snake (Ogmodon vitianus), is from the family Elapidae. It is one of the rarest snakes in the world and is also distinguished as an endangered species. Bolo Snake can only be found on the island of Viti Levu in the Republic of Fiji.
16) Cropani’s tree boa
Scientific NameCorallus cropanii
Size150-170 cm
Life Span10-20 years
Location Miracatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil
ToxicityNon-Venomous
Conservation StatusEndangered
Cropani’s tree boa, also known as Corallus cropanii, is one of the endangered species of boa. It is from the family Boidae.
It is non-venomous and has more than 30 dorsal scales in rows over their bodies. It is primarily found in the coastal plain of Brazil.
15) Cuban khaki dwarf boa
Scientific NameTropidophis hendersoni
Size200-300 cm
Life Span10-20 years
Location West Indies
ToxicityNon-Venomous
Conservation StatusEndangered
Cuban khaki dwarf boa is one of the rarest snakes in the world. It is from boa species that are only found in the West Indies.
It is also categorized under endangered species. They can grow up to 3 feet long.
14) Sahul reef snake or Short-nosed sea snake
Scientific NameAipysurus apraefrontalis
Size50-60 cm
Life Span8-10 years
Location Ashmore & Cartier Islands and the Ningaloo Reef, Australia
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusData Deficient
Sahul reef snake, also known as Short-nosed sea snake or Aipysurus apraefrontalis, is one of the critically endangered venomous sea snake species from the family Elapidae.
These slender brown snakes have small pointed heads and purplish-brown bands over their body. It may grow up to 60 cm and can be found in the Northwestern region of Australia.
13) Wagner’s viper
Wagner’s viper
Scientific NameMontivipera wagneri
Size70-95 cm
Life Span10-20 years
Location Lake Urmia, Iran & Eastern Turkey
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Wagner’s viper, also known as ocellate mountain viper, is one of the critically endangered venomous viper species from the family Viperidae.
It has a greyish ground color body covered with small keeled scales of yellowish-brown or orange colors with black borders. It can grow up to a maximum length of 95 cm. It is only found in eastern Turkey and northwestern Iran.
12) Leaf-scaled Sea Snake
Scientific NameAipysurus foliosquama
Sizeup to 80 cm
Life SpanNo information
Location Shark Bay on the western coast of Australia
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusData Deficient
Leaf-scaled Sea Snake, another name Aipysurus foliosquama, is one of the rarest venomous sea snake species. It is from the family Elapidae and has purple-brown scales.
It may grow up to 800 millimeters and can be found at Shark Bay on the western coast of Australia.
11) Darevsky’s viper
Scientific NameVipera darevskii
Size28-42 cm
Life Span10-20 years
Location northwestern Armenia, northeastern Turkey
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Darevsky’s viper, another name Vipera darevskii, is one of the critically endangered venomous viper species from the family Viperidae.
It is a relatively small snake species with a 42.1 cm maximum length, but its bite is too painful and life-threatening even for adult humans. It is light brown with a black zigzag pattern all over its body.
10) Kikuzato’s brook snake
Scientific NameOpisthotropis kikuzatoi
Size28-42 cm
Life Span10-20 years
Location Kumejima Island, Japan
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Kikuzato’s brook snake is the rarest snake in the world from the family Colubridae. It is semiaquatic species endemic to Kumejima Island, Japan.
It has a dark-shine body with a small head and mainly feeds on earthworms, freshwater shrimp, freshwater fishes, tadpoles, and frogs.
9) Aruba Island Rattlesnake
Aruba Island Rattlesnake
Scientific NameCrotalus unicolor
Sizeup to 90 cm
Life Span15-20 years
Location Aruba
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Crotalus unicolor, also known as Aruba Island Rattlesnake, is one of the rarest venomous snakes in the world from pitviper species. It has a body weight of up to one kilogram and can grow approximately 90 cm.
Its body is light brown and pink in color with dark brown diamond-shaped markings. It can only be found on the island of Aruba.
8) Santa Catalina Rattlesnake
Santa Catalina Rattlesnake
Scientific NameCrotalus unicolor
Sizeup to 90 cm
Life Span15-20 years
Location Isla Santa Catalina, Gulf of California
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusData Deficient
Another rarest venomous snake from pitviper species is Santa Catalina Rattlesnake, also called Crotalus catalinensis. It can grow up to 73.1 cm.
It has either a light cream-colored body with reddish-brown blotching or an ash-grey color body with darker grey blotching. This rattlesnake is mainly found in the Gulf of California.
7) Saint Vincent blacksnake
Scientific NameChironius vincenti
Sizeup to 101 cm
Life SpanNo information
Location Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
ToxicityNo information
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Saint Vincent blacksnake, also called Saint Vincent coachwhip, is also categorized as the rarest snake because of its critically endangered conversation status.
It is from the family Colubridae and is endemic to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It can grow up to 101 cm in length and have a dark-brown body color.
6) Ross’ wolf snake
Scientific NameLycodon chrysoprateros
Sizeup to 72.7 cm
Life Spanup to 10 years
Location Dalupiri Island, Philippines
ToxicityMildly venomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Another critically endangered colubrid snake species is Lycodon chrysoprateros or Ross’ wolf snake. It can only be witnessed at Dalupiri Island in the Philippines.
It can grow up to 72.7 centimeters and has a dark brown dorsal surface without any pattern.
5) Golden Lancehead
Golden Lancehead | Credit: Nayeryouakim (commons.wikimedia) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Scientific NameBothrops Insularis
Size70-90 cm
Life Spanup to 15 years
Location Queimada Grande Island, Brazil
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Bothrops insularis, also known as Golden Lancehead, is one of the critically endangered venomous snakes from pitviper species. It has yellowish-brown body color with a size range from 70 cm to 90 cm.
It is also considered one of the most expensive snakes in the world. Golden Lancehead viper can only be seen in São Paulo state in Brazil.
4) Xenotyphlops grandidieri
Scientific NameXenotyphlops grandidieri
Size15-27 cm
Life Span4-20 years
Location Northern Madagascar
ToxicityNon-Venomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Xenotyphlops grandidieri, also known as Madagascar Blind Snake, is one of the critically endangered snake species from a blind snake or thread snake species.
It has a small body size covered with beautiful pink color. It can only be found in Northern Madagascar.
3) Antiguan Racer
Antiguan Racer
Scientific NameAlsophis antiguae
Size90-100 cm
Life Spanup to 20 years
Location Islands on the Antigua Bank
ToxicityNon-Venomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
In the past, Antiguan Racer is categorized under the extinct status. But thanks to conservation efforts, these snakes have increased in number from 50 to 1100 within the span of 20 years.
Antiguan racer is a non-venomous grey-brown snake from the family Colubridae. It can be found on Great Bird Island, Rabbit Island, Green Island, and York Island off the coast of Antigua.
2) Vipera orlovi
Scientific NameVipera orlovi
Size50+ cm
Life Span10-20 years
Location Caucasus, Russia
ToxicityVenomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Vipera orlovi, also known as Orlov’s Viper, is also one of the rarest venomous snakes in the world. It can only be seen in the Caucasus area of Russia.
It is placed in the second position because of its decreasing population trend. Vipera orlovi has dark-brown body color with black shades.
1) Saint Lucia Racer
Scientific NameErythrolamprus ornatus
Size50-90 cm
Life SpanNo information
Location Saint Lucia, West Indies
ToxicityNon-Venomous
Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Saint Lucia racer, also called Ornate Ground Snake, is the rarest snake in the world, with fewer than 20 left globally. It can grow up to 123.5 cm in body length from head to tail.
Saint Lucia racer is a non-venomous snake that can only be discovered in Saint Lucia, West Indies. It has a brown cerebral stripe with alternating yellow spots.