While the sight of a snake strikes fear into the hearts of many people around the world, the reality is that only a fraction of those native to Bexar County and Texas as a whole are potentially dangerous. In total, 15 venomous snake species or subspecies call the Lone Star State home, including these nine rattlesnake species.

If you encounter one of these reptiles in the wild, it’s important to remember that it wants as little to do with you as you do with it. Simply continue on your way without trying to inspect or touch it.

1) Western diamondback rattlesnake

The Western diamondback is the most widespread venomous snake in Texas, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. True to its name, the snake sports a series of brown diamond-shaped markings on its back. It is also commonly called a “coontail” after the black-and-white ringed pattern on the portion of its tail that precedes the rattle, reminiscent of a raccoon.

In September, a Hill Country rancher found a 10-inch-long albino specimen on his property. He subsequently released the rare animal where he had found it after notifying biologists.

On ExpressNews.com: 'Extremely rare' albino Western Diamondback rattlesnake found on Hill Country ranch

2) Timber rattlesnake

The timber rattlesnake, which is often colloquially called the “canebrake,” dwells in the eastern third of Texas. The snake’s tail is entirely black, a characteristic that has earned it the nickname “velvet-tail.” It is typically brown or tan in color and may have an orange stripe running down the middle of its back. Timber rattlesnakes are considered threatened in Texas and protected by state law.

3) Mottled rock rattlesnake

The mottled rock rattlesnake is found in mountainous areas of West Texas. True to its name, it prefers rocky habitats, according to the Rattlesnake Conservancy.

The mottled rock rattlesnake tends to be cream or pink. Other distinctive features include widely spaced, narrow bands divided by mottled areas. Smaller than the Western diamondback and timber rattlesnake, the snake typically reaches a maximum length of only about 31 inches, according to the conservancy.

On ExpressNews.com: Expert: Viral photo of '11-foot rattlesnake' killed in Texas is fake

4) Banded rock rattlesnake

The banded rock rattlesnake is found in the extreme western portion of Texas and is rarely seen due to its secretive nature, according to Utah’s Hogle Zoo. While the snake closely resembles the mottled rock rattlesnake, it tends to be darker and duller in color.

5) Blacktail rattlesnake

The blacktail rattlesnake is seldom seen outside of its range, mostly West Texas reaching into Central Texas. In 2019, police officers investigating a ranch came across a rare blacktail rattlesnake in Travis County. At the time, it was reported that the snake was only the second of its kind to be discovered in the county since 1966.

On ExpressNews.com: Expert: Rare black-tail rattlesnake found in Central Texas, the second ever recorded in the area

6) Mojave rattlesnake

The Mojave rattlesnake has similar markings as the Western diamondback but is shorter and more slender. It also has a greenish tinge to its scales that the Western diamondback does not, according to the National Park Service.

Like the banded rock rattlesnake, the Mojave rattlesnake is found only in the extreme western portion of the state. It is considered to possess one of the most potent venoms of any North American rattlesnake species thanks to high concentrations of neurotoxins, which target the nervous system, and hemotoxins, which target red blood cells, according to the park service.

7) Prairie rattlesnake

The prairie rattlesnake makes its home in the plains of the western third of the state, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Per the National Park Service, it enjoys the broadest range of any rattlesnake species in the United States.

8) Western massasauga

The Western massasauga belongs to a different genus than the previous entries in this list — Sistrurus rather than Crotalus. The snake is found throughout Central Texas, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

9) Desert massasauga

The desert massasauga is also a member of Sistrurus rather than Crotalus. The snake is smaller, more slender and lighter in color than the Western massasauga. It is found in the Trans-Pecos, western Panhandle and the Lower Rio Grande Valley, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

caroline.tien@hearst.com