Snakes and spiders in Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, home of Las Vegas, has 21 snake and 22 spider species on record, from 1,378 licensed snake and 273 spider records. Venomous species here: the sidewinder, the Panamint rattlesnake, the Mohave rattlesnake, the southwestern speckled rattlesnake, the western diamondback rattlesnake, the western rattlesnake, the western black widow and the desert recluse.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Clark County?
Yes. The sidewinder: 213 licensed records, 70% of all Nevada records of it. The Panamint rattlesnake: 69 licensed records, 64% of all Nevada records of it. The Mohave rattlesnake: 61 licensed records, 91% of all Nevada records of it. The southwestern speckled rattlesnake: 35 licensed records, 100% of all Nevada records of it. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 17 licensed records, 100% of all Nevada records of it. The western rattlesnake: 13 licensed records, 3% of all Nevada records of it. The western black widow: 22 licensed records, 55% of all Nevada records of it. The desert recluse: 5 licensed records, 100% of all Nevada records of it.
What snakes are in Clark County?
In all, 21 snake species are on the Clark County list. The most recorded are the sidewinder (213), the gopher snake (169) and the coachwhip (157). Clark County holds more than half of all Nevada records of the sidewinder, the coachwhip, the long-nosed snake and the glossy snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Nevada records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sidewinder venomous Crotalus cerastes | 213 | 70% |
| 2 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 169 | 25% |
| 3 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 157 | 54% |
| 4 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 144 | 55% |
| 5 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 85 | 79% |
| 6 | Spotted leaf-nosed snake Phyllorhynchus decurtatus | 77 | 47% |
| 7 | Panamint rattlesnake venomous Crotalus stephensi | 69 | 64% |
| 8 | Western patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis | 63 | 47% |
| 9 | Desert nightsnake Hypsiglena chlorophaea | 62 | 61% |
| 10 | Mohave rattlesnake venomous Crotalus scutulatus | 61 | 91% |
| 11 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 55 | 50% |
| 12 | Southwestern speckled rattlesnake venomous Crotalus pyrrhus | 35 | 100% |
| 13 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 33 | 40% |
| 14 | Western shovel-nosed snake Sonora occipitalis | 26 | 24% |
| 15 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 19 | 13% |
| 16 | Sonoran lyre snake Trimorphodon lambda | 17 | 81% |
| 17 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 17 | 100% |
| 18 | Western threadsnake Rena humilis | 16 | 80% |
| 19 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 13 | 3% |
| 20 | Southwestern blackhead snake Tantilla hobartsmithi | 9 | 100% |
| 21 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 6 | 60% |
When are snakes out in Clark County?
Observation records of snakes in Clark County run mostly March through September, peaking in April with 31% of them; across Nevada the peak is May.
What spiders are in Clark County?
In all, 22 spider species are on the Clark County list. The most recorded are the Bay Area blonde (24), Phidippus californicus (22) and the western black widow (22). Clark County holds more than half of all Nevada records of the Bay Area blonde, Phidippus californicus, the western black widow and Plexippoides flavescens.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Nevada records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | 24 | 89% |
| 2 | Phidippus californicus | 22 | 92% |
| 3 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 22 | 55% |
| 4 | Plexippoides flavescens | 20 | 100% |
| 5 | Hirsute paradise spider Habronattus hirsutus | 18 | 86% |
| 6 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 10 | 100% |
| 7 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 10 | 48% |
| 8 | Habronattus tarsalis | 9 | 16% |
| 9 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 6 | 33% |
| 10 | Desert recluse venomous Loxosceles deserta | 5 | 100% |
| 11 | Habronattus pyrrithrix | 4 | 100% |
| 12 | Hogna antelucana | 4 | 100% |
| 13 | Giant crab spider Olios giganteus | 3 | 100% |
| 14 | Habronattus hallani | 3 | 100% |
| 15 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 3 | 50% |
| 16 | Syspira longipes | 3 | 75% |
| 17 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 2 | 100% |
| 18 | Tinus peregrinus | 2 | 100% |
| 19 | Dictis striatipes | 1 | 100% |
| 20 | Phidippus nikites | 1 | 33% |
| 21 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | 1 | 100% |
| 22 | Aphonopelma prenticei | — | — |
When are spiders out in Clark County?
Observation records of spiders in Clark County run mostly March through November, peaking in August with 13% of them; across Nevada the peak is June.
What stands out in Clark County
Species for which Clark County holds a large share of all Nevada records: the southwestern speckled rattlesnake, 100% (35 of 35); Plexippoides flavescens, 100% (20 of 20); Phidippus californicus, 92% (22 of 24); the Mohave rattlesnake, 91% (61 of 67); the Bay Area blonde, 89% (24 of 27); the hirsute paradise spider, 86% (18 of 21); the Sonoran lyre snake, 81% (17 of 21); the western threadsnake, 80% (16 of 20).
Common in Nevada, not on the Clark County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Nevada, these do not reach the county list: the western terrestrial garter snake (557 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 Nevada, these do not reach the county list: the California flattened jumping spider (15 statewide), Habronattus americanus (14 statewide), Habronattus signatus (13 statewide) and Habronattus amicus (10 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Clark County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Nevada under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the long-nosed snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow.
Clark County among Nevada counties
By licensed snake records Clark County ranks 1st of 17 Nevada counties with any.
Other Nevada counties with their own page: Nye County and Washoe County.
The whole state: venomous species in Nevada, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.