Snakes and spiders in Wichita County, Texas
Wichita County, home of Wichita Falls, has 19 snake and 12 spider species on record, from 380 licensed snake and 6 spider records. Venomous species here: the western diamondback rattlesnake, the western massasauga and the brown recluse.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Wichita County?
Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 12 licensed records, 0% of all Texas records of it. The western massasauga: 5 licensed records, 2% of all Texas records of it. The brown recluse: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Wichita County?
In all, 19 snake species are on the Wichita County list. The most recorded are the western ground snake (61), the diamondback water snake (30) and the plains black-headed snake (29).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 61 | 3% |
| 2 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 30 | 2% |
| 3 | Plains black-headed snake Tantilla nigriceps | 29 | 7% |
| 4 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 24 | 2% |
| 5 | Checkered garter snake Thamnophis marcianus | 23 | 1% |
| 6 | Prairie kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster | 22 | 9% |
| 7 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 21 | 1% |
| 8 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 21 | 1% |
| 9 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 19 | 1% |
| 10 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 17 | 3% |
| 11 | Graham's crayfish snake Regina grahamii | 15 | 8% |
| 12 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 12 | 0% |
| 13 | Great Plains rat snake Pantherophis emoryi | 10 | 1% |
| 14 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 10 | 1% |
| 15 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 9 | 2% |
| 16 | Lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum | 8 | 3% |
| 17 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 7 | 0% |
| 18 | Western massasauga venomous Sistrurus tergeminus | 5 | 2% |
| 19 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 4 | 0% |
What spiders are in Wichita County?
In all, 12 spider species are on the Wichita County list. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope (1) and the bold jumper (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 0% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 1 | 0% |
| 3 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | — | — |
| 4 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | — | — |
| 5 | Carolina jumping spider Phidippus carolinensis | — | — |
| 6 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | — | — |
| 7 | High eye-lashed jumping spider Phidippus mystaceus | — | — |
| 8 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | — | — |
| 9 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | — | — |
| 10 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | — | — |
| 11 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | — | — |
| 12 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | — | — |
Common in Texas, not on the Wichita 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), Hogna antelucana (805 statewide), the spiny-backed orbweaver (751 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (669 statewide), the striped lynx spider (579 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 Wichita 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. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the diamondback water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher 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. No widow spiders reach the county list, but the southern black widow, the western black widow, the brown widow and the northern black widow are on the Texas list: treat any spider like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the triangulate bud spider.
Wichita County among Texas counties
By licensed snake records Wichita County ranks 27th 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.