We came across this pair of patchnosed snakes doing something we had never seen snakes do before. Salvadora hexalepis deserticola big bend patch nosed snake near persimmon gap, big bend national park, brewster county, texas april 25, 2010 we chose to visit big bend in late april in the hopes that it would be warm enough for some reptilian activity but cool enough that our dogs could enjoy the trip also. This subspecies, salvadora hexalepis mojavensis mohave patchnosed snake, occurs in california from roughly riverside county, west along the desert side of the mountains, north east of the sierra nevada mountains into nevada and northeast california in lassen county, and east into extreme southeast utah and arizona. Salvadora is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly called patchnose snakes or patch nosed snakes, which are endemic to the western united states and mexico. These demurral predators feed on small mammals, lizards, reptile eggs, and nestling birds. From the legendary, fearinspiring western diamondbacked rattlesnake to the tiny, harmless plains blind snake, texas has a greater diversity of snake species than any other state in the country. Rio grande floodplain to chisos mountains and foothills. The only snake in our area with which the western patch nosed snake is likely to be confused is the eastern patch nosed snake. They sometimes seek refuge in vegetation but are usually found under rocks. Western patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis arizona cochise. Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis desert patchnosed snake sedona, yavapai county, arizona april 18, 2005 patchnosed snakes have an enlarged rostral tip of snout scale that helps them burrow for lizard eggs and other subterranean yummies. The stripes of this subspecies are usually broken up and less distinct. Wild herps western patch nosed snake salvadora hexalepis.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Mohave patch nosed snake salvadora hexalepis mojavensis. Some snakes are venomous, but remember, they lived here first, so let them be. Salvadora deserticola is frequently seen in the early daylight hours throughout its distribution in the extreme western portions of the transpecos in desert.
Salvadora is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly called patchnose snakes or patchnosed snakes, which are endemic to the western united states and mexico. Salvadora hexalepis western patchnosed snake foraging behavior. Six species two anurans and four snakes were collected from the study site in recent surveys that were not collected in 1948. Snake in the water frontera audubon sanctuary in weslaco. Big bend patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis deserticola. Desert patch nosed snake salvadora hexalepis hexalepis. The only snake in our area with which the western patchnosed snake is likely to be confused is the eastern patchnosed snake. Texas patchnosed snake salvadora grahamiae lineata.
The irregularedges and mottling of this snakes dorsal stripes and its additional. Mohave patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis mojavensis. The big bend patch nosed snake is not a protected species in texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license. Salvadora hexalepis, the western patchnosed snake, is a species of non venomous colubrid. Snakes of arizona phoenix snake removal and rattlesnake. The scale across the nose resembles a patch on the nose, therefore the common name. The eastern patchnosed snake is not a protected species in texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license. Southwestern center for herpetological research advancing knowledge and understanding of the herpetofauna of the american southwest. These snakes are listed in approximately the frequency with which they could expect to be seen in the county based on my experience. Mojave patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis mojavensis. South texas ground snake sonora semiannulata taylori. In texas, salvadora grahamiae is found across much of the western half. Rhinocheilus lecontei longnosed snake 20 salvadora grahamiae eastern patchnosed snake 20 salvadora hexalepis western patchnosed snake 20 sonora semiannulatagroundsnake 20 tantilla hobartsmithi smiths blackheaded snake 20.
Start studying turtle lizards snakes common name and picture. A mediumsized up to 900 mm or 36 in total length slender, tan or cream colored snake with two wide, straightedged, dark brown or black stripes on the back. The western patch nosed snake inhabits arid deserts in its area. Glossy snake longnosed snake night snake spotted leafnosed snake striped whipsnake western ground snake western lyre snake western blind snake western patchnosed snake western shovelnosed snake. To the west, in terrell county is a zone of intergradation. The most defining characteristic of the patchnosed snake is the enlarged nose scale that is flared laterally which you wont see in these pics. Photo by matthijs hollanders northwestern garter snake thamnophis ordinoides. The one shown here was photographed in big bend national park, brewster co. The middle of the back between the dark stripes is tan or cream. Variable ground snake sonora semiannulata semiannulata.
Miller ranch and the sierra vieja, chihuahuan desert, texas, usa article pdf available in zookeys 735735. Texas patchnose snake salvadora grahamiae lineata the texas patchnose snake ranges in approximately the central portion of the state from far south texas nearly to the red river on the north. Western patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis tom brennan. Is it a western ribbon snake or a texas patchnosed snake. Northern green ratsnake senticolis triaspis intermedia. John e werler field guide to all snake species in texas with a color photo, range map, and information on identifying characteristics and behavior for each snakeprovided by publisher. Western patchnosed snakes salvadora hexalepis are fairly common in arizona. Featuring updates to the distribution maps, taxonomy, and checklist of texas snakes, this fully illustrated field guide will help both novices and experts identify and appreciate the wide variety of snakes found in texas. Salvadora grahamiae lineata from medina county, texas. When you encounter one in the desert, consider yourself lucky and enjoy your good fortune at a distance. Coast patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis virgultea. The stripes have a slight sawtooth look to them, unlike the straight stripes of the eastern patchnosed snake. Offline access enabled print snakes of bexar county a guide to the snakes of bexar county, texas.
Western patchnosed snake tucson herpetological society. Anage, umich, max planck, pantheria, arkive, ukc, akc. Mojave desert shrubs desert plants snake weed, gutierrezia sp. The stripes running down the body might give is a similar look with the gartersnake. It resembles the bigbend patchnosed snake but has only one or no scales separating the anterior edge of the posterior chinshields, and the lateral dark stripe is either absent or located on the 3 rd scale row. Eastern patchnosed snake salvadora grahamiae reptiles. We use the most recent data from these primary sources. I thought it might be interesting posted by draybar on march 30, 2003 at 10. In texas, salvadora deserticola is restricted to the western extremes of chihuahuan desert habitat in the state. This fully illustrated field guide to texas snakes, written by two of the states most respected herpetologists, gives you the most current and. Great plains toad bufo cognatus, texas toad bufo speciosus, chihuahuan hooknosed snake gyalopion canum, desert kingsnake lampropeltis splendida, plains blackheaded snake tantilla nigriceps, and new mexico.
The big bend patchnosed snake is not a protected species in texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license. Snakes of the american southwest southwestern center. They are characterized by having a distinctive scale on the tip of the snout. Patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis this snake grows to 3 feet in length. The big bend patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis deserticola is a snake of the desert scrub of far west texas. This subspecies usually has orange or peach coloration. In texas, salvadora grahamiae is found across much of the western half, as well as the southern portions, of the state. Picture of a western patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis previous next. Mexican hognosed snake heterodon kennerlyi open mojave rattlesnake crotalus scutulatus open desert mountain patchnosed snake salvadora grahamiae grahamiae desert new mexico threadsnake leptotyphlops dissectus desert open. Eastern patchnosed snakes typically forage during the early morning hours for. On the end of the nose is an enlarged scale that looks like a small, bent guitar pick, which the snake uses to hunt lizards hiding in shallow sand. The eastern patch nosed snake is not a protected species in texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license. Desert patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis hexalepis.
Turtle lizards snakes common name and picture flashcards. Western patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis colubridae. Western patchnosed snakes are terrestrial and diurnal. Western patchnosed snake salvidora hexalepis reptiles of. In the range of this work it is found in val verde county. A western diamondback rattlesnake sunning on a rock in the west texas desert prepares to strike wild snakes on the road in big bend national park. Most noticeable is the large, patchlike rostral scale on the end of. Most noticeable is the large, patch like rostral scale on the end of the nose. It feeds upon lizards, snakes, reptile eggs, and small rodents.
It resembles the bigbend patch nosed snake but has only one or no scales separating the anterior edge of the posterior chinshields, and the lateral dark stripe is either absent or located on the 3 rd scale row. Reptiles visit big bend guides for the big bend region. Texas patchnosed snake big bend patchnosed snake desert patchnosed snake carolina swampsnake northern green ratsnake groundsnake marsh brownsnake. Wild herps western patchnosed snake salvadora hexalepis. Hotter weather bringing out the snakes in texas patch. Desert lowlands, desert shrublands, creosotebush flats.