List of Snakes Found in Saudi Arabia

Taxonomic family Colubridae is a large and diverse group of nonvemonous snakes, found in habitats such as sandy terrain, canyons, scrublands, arid mountains and farms. Snakes in this family include the egg-eating snake (Dasypeltis scabra), the cliff racer Azrud jabali rafi (Platyceps rhodorachis rhodorachis), the Saharan cliff racer (Platyceps saharicus), the glossy-bellied racer (Platyceps ventromaculatus), the elegant racer (Platyceps elegantissimus (elegant racer), the Manser's racer (Platyceps manseri), the spotted racer (Platyceps rogersi), the Clifford snake (Spalerosophis diadema cliffordi), the Moila snake (Malpolon moilensis), the Diademed sand-snake (Lytorhynchus diadema), the Schokari sand snake (Psammophis schokari schokari) and the Arabian cat snake (Telescopus dhara dhara).

Family Viperidae comprises venomous snakes who use venom to hunt and protect themselves from predators. Such snakes include the puff adder (Bitis arietans arietans), the carpet viper (Echis pyramidum), Burton’s carpet viper (Echis coloratus), the greater Cerastes horned viper (Cerastes cerastes gasperetti), the lesser Cerastes viper (Cerastes vipera), the Sind saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki), the Levant viper (Macrovipera lebetina) and the field's horned viper (Pesudocerastes persicus fieldi).

Snakes of taxonomic families Typhlopidae, Leptotypholopidae and Boidae all live among soil or sandy terrain, where they hunt for invertebrates such as termites, ants and insect larvae. Family Typhlopidae includes the Brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) and the Greek blind snake (Typhlops vermicularis). Family Leptotypholopidae includes only the hook-billed blind snake (Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus). Family Bodiae also consists of only one species of snake, Jayakar’s sand boa (Eryx jayakari).

Snakes of families Atractaspidae and Elapidae generally prefer habitats with loose soil that are close to water. They feed on rodents, lizards, toads, frogs and fish. Family Atractaspidae consists of the burrowing adder (Atractaspis microlepidota), the Israeli mole viper (Atractaspis engaddensis) and Anderson's mole viper (Atractaspis andersonii). Family Elapidae includes the Arabian Cobra (Naja haje arabica), the spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis nigricollis) and the Innes cobra (Walterinnsia aegyptia), as well as several water snakes: the Arabian Gulf sea snake (Hydrophis lapemoides), the annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus), the small-headed sea snake (Hydrophis macdowelli) and the beaked sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa).