Lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum)
The lined snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 1,462 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 9 states, most of all Kansas (480), Oklahoma (480) and Texas (287). Its observation records peak in May.
Is the lined snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The lined snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the lined snake?
Records are spread over 9 states; the top three, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, hold 85% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 480 | 3.3% | 10th of 44 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 480 | 3.6% | 10th of 50 |
| 3 | Texas | 287 | 0.7% | 37th of 86 |
| 4 | New Mexico | 67 | 1.0% | 18th of 56 |
| 5 | Nebraska | 57 | 2.4% | 10th of 31 |
| 6 | Missouri | 28 | 1.5% | 21st of 36 |
| 7 | Colorado | 21 | 0.6% | 14th of 26 |
| 8 | South Dakota | 20 | 0.6% | 14th of 16 |
| 9 | Iowa | 13 | 1.2% | 19th of 22 |
When is the lined snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the lined snake run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 26% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 2% of them.
Where the lined snake is recorded in each state
Kansas
Kansas holds 480 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Kansas come from Cowley County, Russell County and Jewell County. Next come Chase County (28) and Leavenworth County (20).
Oklahoma
Oklahoma holds 480 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Okmulgee County, Tulsa County and Pottawatomie County. Next come Cleveland County (16) and Payne County (11).
Texas
Texas holds 287 licensed records, the 37th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly March through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from McLennan County, Tarrant County and Dallas County. Next come Travis County (21) and Grayson County (18).
New Mexico
New Mexico holds 67 licensed records, the joint 18th most recorded of 56 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in New Mexico come from Mora County, San Miguel County and Bernalillo County. Next come Guadalupe County (4) and Union County (4).
Nebraska
Nebraska holds 57 licensed records, the joint 10th most recorded of 31 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nebraska come from Jefferson County, Lancaster County and Pawnee County. Next come Gage County (4) and Richardson County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Okmulgee County | Oklahoma | 256 | 17.5% |
| 2 | Tulsa County | Oklahoma | 112 | 7.7% |
| 3 | Cowley County | Kansas | 70 | 4.8% |
| 4 | Russell County | Kansas | 48 | 3.3% |
| 5 | Jewell County | Kansas | 32 | 2.2% |
| 6 | Chase County | Kansas | 28 | 1.9% |
| 7 | Mora County | New Mexico | 25 | 1.7% |
| 8 | McLennan County | Texas | 24 | 1.6% |
| 9 | San Miguel County | New Mexico | 23 | 1.6% |
| 10 | Tarrant County | Texas | 23 | 1.6% |
| 11 | Dallas County | Texas | 23 | 1.6% |
| 12 | Pottawatomie County | Oklahoma | 22 | 1.5% |
| 13 | Jefferson County | Nebraska | 21 | 1.4% |
| 14 | Travis County | Texas | 21 | 1.4% |
| 15 | Leavenworth County | Kansas | 20 | 1.4% |
How recent are the lined snake records?
The lined snake record leans on older material: only 11% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1959. The oldest dated record is from 1879; the busiest year was 1931, with 143 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1880s | 2 | 0.1% |
| 1900s | 5 | 0.4% |
| 1910s | 9 | 0.7% |
| 1920s | 138 | 10.1% |
| 1930s | 254 | 18.5% |
| 1940s | 86 | 6.3% |
| 1950s | 206 | 15.0% |
| 1960s | 192 | 14.0% |
| 1970s | 108 | 7.9% |
| 1980s | 81 | 5.9% |
| 1990s | 48 | 3.5% |
| 2000s | 53 | 3.9% |
| 2010s | 75 | 5.5% |
| 2020s | 114 | 8.3% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 66 counties where the lined snake is most recorded, 31 are also top counties for the gopher snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the western massasauga.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Gopher snake | 31 |
| Common garter snake | 29 |
| Speckled kingsnake | 27 |
| Ring-necked snake | 25 |
| Western massasauga venomous | 24 |
| Eastern racer | 21 |
| Western rat snake | 19 |
| Western ground snake | 18 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.