Groundsnake
Mojave Shovelnose Snake
HarmlessSonora occipitalis
3 photographs of the Mojave Shovelnose Snake. © Guillermo Roque.
The Mojave Shovelnose Snake (Sonora occipitalis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 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 Mojave Shovelnose Snake
The western shovel-nosed snake (Chionactis occipitalis) is a small species of snake of the family Colubridae.
Description
A small (11 - 17 inch) snake with alternating bands of orange and tan on cream or tan on cream. Less commonly specimens have been documented as having black bands on white. The snout is usually cream to light yellow and has a noticeable point to assist in digging. The small black eyes are covered by a black mask. The western shovel-nosed snake is distinguished from the similar looking coral snake, by the yellow snout and lack of full banding around the belly. A similar species, the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake has less than 20 bands on its body.
Geographic Range
The snake is found in the United States (Arizona, California, Nevada) and Mexico. The snake is primarily found in Sonoran Desert scrub or Mojave Desert scrub.
Diet
The western shovel-nosed snake feeds on a variety of invertebrates including insects, spiders, centipedes, and scorpions. They have been documented eating the eggs of other reptiles.
Behavior
Snakes are primarily fossorial. The Western shovel-nosed Snake spends most of its life in sand or sandy soil, with peak activity for the species occurring in the spring. Mating takes place in the spring and adult females will lay up to nine eggs in the summer.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies currently recognized.
C.occipitalis annulata - Colorado Desert Shovel-nosed Snake
C. occipitalis klauberi - Tucson Shovel-nosed Snake
C. occipitalis occipitalis - Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Mojave Shovelnose Snake
- Is the Mojave Shovelnose Snake venomous?
- No. The Mojave Shovelnose Snake (Sonora occipitalis) 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 Mojave Shovelnose Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Mojave Shovelnose Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Mojave Shovelnose Snake dangerous?
- The Mojave Shovelnose Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Mojave Shovelnose Snake live?
- The Mojave Shovelnose Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Mojave Shovelnose Snake?
- Small and smooth-scaled; highly variable — banded, striped, or plain.
- How big does the Mojave Shovelnose Snake get?
- Small, 8–18 in.
- What does the Mojave Shovelnose Snake eat?
- The western shovel-nosed snake feeds on a variety of invertebrates including insects, spiders, centipedes, and scorpions. They have been documented eating the eggs of other reptiles.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
More Colubridae snakes
Great Plains Ground SnakeSonora episcopa
Ground SnakeSonora semiannulata
Colorado Desert Shovelnose SnakeSonora annulata
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 occipitalis
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.