Snakes and spiders in Dallas County, Texas
Dallas County, home of Dallas, has 26 snake and 76 spider species on record, from 606 licensed snake and 1,845 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the broad-banded copperhead, the Texas coral snake, the western diamondback rattlesnake, the northern cottonmouth, the southern black widow, the brown recluse, the northern black widow and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Dallas County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 50 licensed records, 4% of all Texas records of it. The broad-banded copperhead: 33 licensed records, 9% of all Texas records of it. The Texas coral snake: 6 licensed records, 1% of all Texas records of it. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 6 licensed records, 0% of all Texas records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 2 licensed records, 0% of all Texas records of it. The southern black widow: 25 licensed records, 12% of all Texas records of it. The brown recluse: 8 licensed records, 7% of all Texas records of it. The northern black widow: 5 licensed records, 38% of all Texas records of it. The western black widow: 2 licensed records, 1% of all Texas records of it.
What snakes are in Dallas County?
In all, 26 snake species are on the Dallas County list. The most recorded are the rough earthsnake (128), the diamondback water snake (64) and the plain-bellied watersnake (54).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 128 | 9% |
| 2 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 64 | 4% |
| 3 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 54 | 2% |
| 4 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 50 | 4% |
| 5 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 48 | 6% |
| 6 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 40 | 2% |
| 7 | Broad-banded copperhead venomous Agkistrodon laticinctus | 33 | 9% |
| 8 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 33 | 1% |
| 9 | Lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum | 23 | 8% |
| 10 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 20 | 2% |
| 11 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 15 | 2% |
| 12 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 13 | 7% |
| 13 | Flathead snake Tantilla gracilis | 12 | 1% |
| 14 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 10 | 2% |
| 15 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 10 | 1% |
| 16 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 7 | 1% |
| 17 | Graham's crayfish snake Regina grahamii | 6 | 3% |
| 18 | Texas coral snake venomous Micrurus tener | 6 | 1% |
| 19 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 6 | 0% |
| 20 | Prairie kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster | 4 | 2% |
| 21 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 3 | 0% |
| 22 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | 3 | 2% |
| 23 | Texas blind snake Rena dulcis | 3 | 0% |
| 24 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 2 | 0% |
| 25 | Great Plains rat snake Pantherophis emoryi | 1 | 0% |
| 26 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | — | — |
When are snakes out in Dallas County?
Observation records of snakes in Dallas County run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 21% of them, the same peak as Texas as a whole.
What spiders are in Dallas County?
In all, 76 spider species are on the Dallas County list. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope (186), the striped lynx spider (168) and the bold jumper (110). Dallas County holds more than half of all Texas records of the dimorphic jumper.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 186 | 9% |
| 2 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 168 | 29% |
| 3 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 110 | 8% |
| 4 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 107 | 27% |
| 5 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 104 | 16% |
| 6 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 88 | 63% |
| 7 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 74 | 7% |
| 8 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | 59 | 18% |
| 9 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 56 | 11% |
| 10 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 54 | 12% |
| 11 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 38 | 4% |
| 12 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 37 | 16% |
| 13 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 33 | 8% |
| 14 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 32 | 26% |
| 15 | Celer crab spider Mecaphesa celer | 27 | 22% |
| 16 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 25 | 12% |
| 17 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | 24 | 13% |
| 18 | Cyclosa turbinata | 23 | 31% |
| 19 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | 20 | 9% |
| 20 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 20 | 26% |
| 21 | Lance wolf spider Schizocosa avida | 19 | 13% |
| 22 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 17 | 8% |
| 23 | Carolina jumping spider Phidippus carolinensis | 17 | 11% |
| 24 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 17 | 4% |
| 25 | Phidippus texanus | 15 | 10% |
| 26 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | 15 | 20% |
| 27 | Dysdera crocata | 14 | 39% |
| 28 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 14 | 2% |
| 29 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 13 | 20% |
| 30 | Tigrosa annexa | 13 | 4% |
| 31 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 12 | 13% |
| 32 | Trochosa sepulchralis | 12 | 14% |
| 33 | Featherlegged orbweaver Uloborus glomosus | 11 | 19% |
| 34 | Habronattus coecatus | 11 | 23% |
| 35 | Pardosa mercurialis | 11 | 10% |
| 36 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 11 | 6% |
| 37 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 10 | 5% |
| 38 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 10 | 6% |
| 39 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 10 | 6% |
| 40 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 9 | 7% |
| 41 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 9 | 14% |
| 42 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | 8 | 7% |
| 43 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | 8 | 14% |
| 44 | Comstock's wafer trapdoor spider Myrmekiaphila comstocki | 8 | 38% |
| 45 | Mecaphesa dubia | 8 | 6% |
| 46 | Audouin's trapdoor spider Ummidia audouini | 7 | 44% |
| 47 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | 7 | 2% |
| 48 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 6 | 6% |
| 49 | Falconina gracilis | 6 | 3% |
| 50 | Hogna antelucana | 6 | 1% |
| 51 | Humpbacked orbweaver Eustala anastera | 6 | 6% |
| 52 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 6 | 25% |
| 53 | Heptagonal orbweaver Gea heptagon | 5 | 14% |
| 54 | Lined orbweaver Mangora gibberosa | 5 | 4% |
| 55 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 5 | 38% |
| 56 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | 4 | 11% |
| 57 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 4 | 10% |
| 58 | Sassacus papenhoei | 4 | 11% |
| 59 | Tuftlegged orbweaver Mangora placida | 4 | 5% |
| 60 | Two-lined stealthy ground spider Cesonia bilineata | 4 | 9% |
When are spiders out in Dallas County?
Observation records of spiders in Dallas County run mostly March through November, peaking in July with 18% of them; across Texas the peak is April.
What stands out in Dallas County
Species for which Dallas County holds a large share of all Texas records: the dimorphic jumper, 63% (88 of 140); Dysdera crocata, 39% (14 of 36); Cyclosa turbinata, 31% (23 of 75); the striped lynx spider, 29% (168 of 579); the triangulate bud spider, 27% (107 of 400); the orchard orbweaver, 26% (32 of 123); the flea jumping spider, 26% (20 of 78); Habronattus coecatus, 23% (11 of 47).
Common in Texas, not on the Dallas County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: the checkered garter snake (1,851 statewide) and the gopher snake (1,440 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: 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 Dallas County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake, the eastern hog-nosed snake and the northern water snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the diamondback water snake, the plain-bellied watersnake, the southern watersnake and the northern water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake and the Great Plains rat snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider and the common house spider. Recluse spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the longbodied cellar spider.
Dallas County among Texas counties
By licensed snake records Dallas County ranks 11th 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.