Patchnose snake
Salvadora gymnorhachis
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.


2 photographs of the Salvadora gymnorhachis. (c) gutierrez jimenez Ismael José, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
Salvadora gymnorhachis is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Also called
- Patchnose snake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Slender, 2–4 ft.
- Habitat
- Deserts and dry grasslands.
- Behavior
- Fast and day-active; the enlarged snout scale helps it dig.
- Identify
- Slender with a bold longitudinal stripe and a large scale over the snout.
About the Salvadora gymnorhachis
Salvadora gymnorhachis is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Salvadora gymnorhachis
- Is the Salvadora gymnorhachis venomous?
- No. The Salvadora gymnorhachis 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 Salvadora gymnorhachis poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Salvadora gymnorhachis is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Salvadora gymnorhachis dangerous?
- The Salvadora gymnorhachis is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Salvadora gymnorhachis live?
- The Salvadora gymnorhachis has verified records in 2 countries, including Mexico, Saint Pierre and Miquelon. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Salvadora gymnorhachis?
- Slender with a bold longitudinal stripe and a large scale over the snout.
- How big does the Salvadora gymnorhachis get?
- Slender, 2–4 ft.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Western Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora hexalepis
Texas Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora lineata
Mountain Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora grahamiae
Big Bend Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora deserticola
Baird's Patchnose SnakeSalvadora bairdi
Mexican Patchnose SnakeSalvadora mexicana
Pacific Patchnose SnakeSalvadora lemniscata
Oaxacan Patchnose SnakeSalvadora intermedia
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
- Salvadora
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Salvadora gymnorhachis
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.