Glossy snake
Glossy Snake
HarmlessArizona elegans
The Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Also called
- Glossy snake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- 2–4 ft.
- Habitat
- Deserts and arid grasslands.
- Behavior
- Nocturnal burrower; a gophersnake look-alike but harmless.
- Identify
- Smooth, glossy, faded-looking blotches on a tan body.
About the Glossy Snake
Arizona elegans is a species of medium-sized colubrid snake commonly referred to as the glossy snake or the faded snake, which is native to southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has several subspecies. Some have recommended that A. elegans occidentalis be granted full species status.
Subspecies
Subspecies of Arizona elegans include:
Arizona elegans arenicola Dixon, 1960 – Texas glossy snake
Arizona elegans candida Klauber, 1946 – Western Mojave glossy snake
Arizona elegans eburnata Klauber, 1946 – Desert glossy snake
Arizona elegans elegans Kennicott, 1859 – Kansas glossy snake
Arizona elegans expolita Klauber, 1946 – Chihuahua glossy snake
Arizona elegans noctivaga Klauber, 1946 – Arizona glossy snake
Arizona elegans occidentalis Blanchard, 1924 – California glossy snake
Arizona elegans philipi Klauber, 1946 – Painted Desert glossy snake
Description
The glossy snake and its many subspecies are all similar in appearance to gopher snakes. However, they are smaller than gopher snakes, with narrow, pointed heads, and a variety of skin patterns and colors. They appear "washed-out" or pale, hence the common name, "faded snakes".
Most subspecies are ca. 75–130 cm (ca. 30-50 inches) in total length. The maximum recorded total length for the species is 142 cm (56 in).
They are shades of tan, brown, and gray with spotted patterns on their smooth, glossy skin, and a white or cream-colored unmarked ventral surface. Coloration often varies in relation to the color of the soil in a snake's native habitat.
Habitat
Habitat is normally semi-arid grasslands of the southwestern United States, from California in the west to Kansas in the east and as far south as Texas, and northern Mexico.
Behavior and diet
They are nonvenomous, nocturnal predators of small lizards.
Reproduction
Glossy snakes are oviparous. Adults breed in the late spring and early summer. Clutches average from 10 to 20 eggs. The eggs hatch in early summers and the newly hatched young are approximately 25 cm (9.8 in) in total length.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Glossy Snake
- Is the Glossy Snake venomous?
- No. The Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans) 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 Glossy Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Glossy Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Glossy Snake dangerous?
- The Glossy Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Glossy Snake live?
- The Glossy Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Marshall Islands. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Glossy Snake?
- Smooth, glossy, faded-looking blotches on a tan body.
- How big does the Glossy Snake get?
- 2–4 ft.
- What does the Glossy Snake eat?
- They are nonvenomous, nocturnal predators of small lizards.
Where it is found
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
- Arizona
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Arizona elegans
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.