North American Snakes poster

Work in Progress. As with all our posters, we begin by identifying the general subject. Each of our Life on Earth Collections contains eight titles and we try to vary the subject matter, so that each contains a good mix. We wanted this collection to contain one on the general subject of reptiles. Our master publishing plan lists 14 reptiles titles, so we then decided upon the specific subject. In this case we decided on the North American Snakes. We then extensively research the subject.
We then clearly define the content - what it will show and what it will say. Authorities differ as to classification, but there are around 130 individual species, but many are rare. There are varieties or races, which can push the total over 200. We cannot show them all so concentrated on showing the most widespread and important species. A major goal was to identify the dangerous species so that the reader would be very familiar with those to avoid. Color tint blocks are used to identify venomous and non-venomous species.

STATUS: Research is complete. Copy has been written and a working layout prepared. The images shown below are temporary. They have been gleaned from a popular field directory and are used solely for research as they help us to identify what needs to be shown. We are commissioning our own original which will be superior to that shown below.

	Texas Blind Snake Leptotyphlops dulcis Length: 5 in - 10 in
	Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus Length: 5 in - 11 in
	Rubber Boa Charina bottae Length 1 ft - 2 1/2 ft P 172
	Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans Length: 1 1/2 ft - 3 1/2 ft.
	Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis 2 forms of eastern race Length: 1 1/2 ft - 4 ft
	Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus Length: 1 1/2 ft - 3 ft
	Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum Length: 3 ft - 8 1/2 ft
	Glossy Snake Arizona elegans Length: 2 ft - 5 1/3 ft
	Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea Length: 1 ft - 2 1/2 ft
	Western Shovel-nosed Snake Chionactis occipitalis Length: 10 in - 18 in
	Racer Coluber constrictor Length: 3 ft - 6 ft
	Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctaus Length: 1 ft - 2 1/2 ft
	Mud Snake Farancia abacura Length: 3 ft - 6 1/2 ft
	Indigo Snake Drymarchon corais Length 5 ft - 8 1/2 ft. Largest Snake in North America
	Rat Snake Elaphe obsoltea Length: 3 ft - 8 ft
	Corn Snake Elaphe guttata Length: 2 ft - 6 ft
	Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platyrhinos Length: 1 1/2 ft - 3 3/4 ft
	Night Snake Hypsiglena torquata Length: 1 ft - 2 ft
	Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum Length: 1 1/2 ft - 4 ft
	Common Kingsnake (eastern variety) Lampropeltis getula
	Smooth Green Snake Opheodrys vernalis Length: 1 ft - 2ft
	Long-nosed Snake Rhinocheilus lecontei Length: 2 ft - 3ft
	Bullsnake
	Brown Snake Storeria dekayi Length: 10 in - 20 in
	Red-bellied Snake Storeria occipitomaculata Length: 8 in - 16 in
	Smooth Earth Snake Virginia valeriae Length: 7 in - 13 in Pg. 178
	Plains Back-headed Snake Tantilla nigriceps Length: 7 in - 14 3/4 in
	Lined Snake Tropidoclonion lineatum Length: 8 in - 21 in
	Eastern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius
	Cooperhead Agkistrodon contortrix
	Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus
	Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus
	Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox
	Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
	Massasauga Sistrurus catenatus