Colubridae
Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake
HarmlessFicimia hardyi



3 photographs of the Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake. (c) John Zenil, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake (Ficimia hardyi) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake
Ficimia hardyi, also known commonly as Hardy's hooknose snake, Hardy's hook-nosed snake, the Hidalgo hook-nosed snake, and nariz de gancho de Hardy in Mexican Spanish, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Etymology
The specific name, hardyi, is in honor of American herpetologist Laurence McNeil Hardy.
Geographic range
F. hardyi is found in the Mexican states of Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of F. hardyi are forest and shrubland, but it has also been found in cultivated agave fields.
Description
The holotype of F. hardyi has a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 28.2 cm (11.1 in), plus a tail length of 7.6 cm (3.0 in).
Behavior
F. hardyi is terrestrial and fossorial.
Reproduction
F. hardyi is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake
- Is the Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake venomous?
- No. The Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake (Ficimia hardyi) 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 Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake dangerous?
- The Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake live?
- The Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Hardy's Hook-nosed Snake?
- The specific name, hardyi, is in honor of American herpetologist Laurence McNeil Hardy.
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
- Ficimia
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Ficimia hardyi
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.







