Groundsnake
Great Plains Ground Snake
HarmlessSonora episcopa
6 photographs of the Great Plains Ground Snake. © ashleyrsteel.
The Great Plains Ground Snake (Sonora episcopa) 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 Great Plains Ground Snake
Sonora episcopa, the ground snake, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.
The snake is found in the United States and Mexico.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Great Plains Ground Snake
- Is the Great Plains Ground Snake venomous?
- No. The Great Plains Ground Snake (Sonora episcopa) 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 Great Plains Ground Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Great Plains Ground Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Great Plains Ground Snake dangerous?
- The Great Plains Ground Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Great Plains Ground Snake live?
- The Great Plains Ground 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 Great Plains Ground Snake?
- Small and smooth-scaled; highly variable — banded, striped, or plain.
- How big does the Great Plains Ground Snake get?
- Small, 8–18 in.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Ground SnakeSonora semiannulata
Colorado Desert Shovelnose SnakeSonora annulata
Mojave Shovelnose SnakeSonora occipitalis
Banded Sand SnakeSonora cincta
Taylor’s Ground SnakeSonora taylori
Sonoran Shovel-nosed SnakeSonora palarostris
Mexican GroundsnakeSonora mutabilis
Michoacán Ground SnakeSonora michoacanensis
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 episcopa
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.