Types of leaf-nosed snakes

Phyllorhynchus is a small genus of colubrid snakes native to the arid lands of the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico. The genus holds two species: the Western Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) and the Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus browni). Both are members of the large, mostly harmless family Colubridae. The name comes from the distinctive enlarged, leaf-shaped rostral scale that covers the tip of the snout, the feature that sets these snakes apart from their relatives at a glance.

These are small snakes, generally well under two feet long, with a blunt leaf-capped snout, vertical cat-like pupils, and a pale ground color marked by darker brown or gray blotches or saddles along the back. They live in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts and adjacent dry scrub, favoring sandy or gravelly soils where they spend the day hidden underground or under cover. They are nocturnal and are most often seen crossing desert roads on warm nights. The enlarged rostral scale is thought to help with burrowing and pushing through loose soil.

Leaf-nosed snakes are technically rear-fanged colubrids, but they are harmless to people. Their mild saliva is adapted to subduing small prey such as lizards and lizard eggs, not defending against large animals, and they have no medically significant venom. They are non-aggressive and rely on hiding rather than biting. As with any wild snake, the sensible practice is to observe and not handle it. If anyone is ever bitten by a snake they cannot confidently identify, treat it as a medical matter and contact US Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or local emergency services. These snakes lay small clutches of eggs and feed largely on small lizards and their eggs, filling a quiet predator role in the desert night.