Nightsnake
Coast Night Snake
HarmlessHypsiglena ochrorhynchus
6 photographs of the Coast Night Snake. © Parsa Fard.
The Coast Night Snake (Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Also called
- Nightsnake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Small, 12–26 in.
- Habitat
- Arid and semi-arid rocky areas.
- Behavior
- Nocturnal; rear-fanged but harmless to humans.
- Identify
- Pale gray with dark blotches, vertical pupils, and dark neck blotches.
About the Coast Night Snake
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus, also known commonly as the coast night snake and the spotted night snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to California in the United States and to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. There are eight recognized subspecies.
Reproduction
H. ochrorhynchus is oviparous.
Subspecies
Eight subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus baueri Zweifel, 1958
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus gularis W. Tanner, 1954
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus klauberi W. Tanner, 1946
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus martinensis W. Tanner & Banta, 1962
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus nuchalata W. Tanner, 1943
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus ochrorhynchus Cope, 1860
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus tortugaensis W. Tanner, 1946
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus venusta Mocquard, 1899
Etymologies
The subspecific name, baueri, is in honor of American entrepreneur Harry J. Bauer (1886–1960) for his support of the 1958 Puritan-American Museum expedition to Baja California.
The subspecific name, klauberi, is in honor of American herpetologist Laurence Monroe Klauber.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Coast Night Snake
- Is the Coast Night Snake venomous?
- The Coast Night Snake (Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Coast Night Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Coast Night Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Coast Night Snake dangerous?
- The Coast Night Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Coast Night Snake live?
- The Coast Night Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including United States of America, Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Coast Night Snake?
- Pale gray with dark blotches, vertical pupils, and dark neck blotches.
- How big does the Coast Night Snake get?
- Small, 12–26 in.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
More Colubridae snakes
Chihuahuan NightsnakeHypsiglena jani
Desert NightsnakeHypsiglena chlorophaea
Sinaloan NightsnakeHypsiglena torquata
Baja California Night SnakeHypsiglena slevini
Tanzer’s Night SnakeHypsiglena tanzeri
Rio Grande de Santiago NightsnakeHypsiglena affinis
Isla Santa Catalina NightsnakeHypsiglena catalinae
Islas Revillagigedo NightsnakeHypsiglena unaocularus
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Hypsiglena
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.