Groundsnake
Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake
HarmlessSonora annulata
6 photographs of the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake. © nmoorhatch.
The Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake (Sonora annulata) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Also called
- Groundsnake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Small, 8–18 in.
- Habitat
- Deserts and arid grasslands with sandy or rocky soils.
- Behavior
- Nocturnal burrowers that feed on invertebrates.
- Identify
- Small and smooth-scaled; highly variable — banded, striped, or plain.
About the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake
Sonora annulata, also known commonly as the Colorado Desert shovelnose snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.
Geographic range
In the United States, S. annulata is found in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California. In Mexico it is found in northeastern Baja California.
Diet
Sonora annulata preys upon insects, scorpions, and lizards.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Sonora annulata annulata (Baird, 1859)
Sonora annulata klauberi Stickel, 1941 – Tucson shovel-nosed snake
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Sonora.
Etymology
The subspecific name, klauberi, is in honor of American herpetologist Laurence Monroe Klauber.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake
- Is the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake venomous?
- No. The Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake (Sonora annulata) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake dangerous?
- The Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake live?
- The Colorado Desert Shovelnose 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 Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake?
- Small and smooth-scaled; highly variable — banded, striped, or plain.
- How big does the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake get?
- Small, 8–18 in.
- What does the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake eat?
- Sonora annulata preys upon insects, scorpions, and lizards.
- Why is it called the Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake?
- The subspecific name, klauberi, is in honor of American herpetologist Laurence Monroe Klauber.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
More Colubridae snakes
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
- Sonora
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Sonora annulata
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.