Nightsnake
Sinaloan Nightsnake
HarmlessHypsiglena torquata
6 photographs of the Sinaloan Nightsnake. © Francisco Farriols Sarabia.
The Sinaloan Nightsnake (Hypsiglena torquata) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 7 countries.
- Also called
- Nightsnake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Small, 12–26 in.
- Habitat
- Arid and semi-arid rocky areas.
- Behavior
- Nocturnal; rear-fanged but harmless to humans.
- Identify
- Pale gray with dark blotches, vertical pupils, and dark neck blotches.
About the Sinaloan Nightsnake
The Sinaloan Nightsnake belongs to the Colubridae family, colubrids. The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to.
Colubridae is by far the biggest family of snakes, with roughly two thousand species worldwide. It is a catch-all of mostly slender, agile, day-active snakes: ratsnakes, kingsnakes, gartersnakes, watersnakes, racers, whipsnakes, and hundreds more. The vast majority are harmless to people and kill prey by grabbing or constricting rather than with venom.
Its genus, Hypsiglena, covers nightsnakes. Hypsiglena is a genus of small, secretive, mildly venomous nightsnakes from western North America that hunt after dark and pose essentially no danger to people.
The Sinaloan Nightsnake is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to people, but like any wild snake it is best observed from a distance and left undisturbed. Pale gray with dark blotches, vertical pupils, and dark neck blotches.
Small, 12–26 in. Arid and semi-arid rocky areas.
It has been recorded across 7 countries, including the United States of America, Mexico, Panama, Colombia and Canada. In the United States it has been documented in 12 states, including California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Sinaloan Nightsnake
- Is the Sinaloan Nightsnake venomous?
- The Sinaloan Nightsnake (Hypsiglena torquata) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Sinaloan Nightsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sinaloan Nightsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Sinaloan Nightsnake dangerous?
- The Sinaloan Nightsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Sinaloan Nightsnake live?
- The Sinaloan Nightsnake has verified records in 7 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Panama. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Sinaloan Nightsnake?
- Pale gray with dark blotches, vertical pupils, and dark neck blotches.
- How big does the Sinaloan Nightsnake get?
- Small, 12–26 in.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Chihuahuan NightsnakeHypsiglena jani
Desert NightsnakeHypsiglena chlorophaea
Coast Night SnakeHypsiglena ochrorhynchus
Baja California Night SnakeHypsiglena slevini
Tanzer’s Night SnakeHypsiglena tanzeri
Rio Grande de Santiago NightsnakeHypsiglena affinis
Isla Santa Catalina NightsnakeHypsiglena catalinae
Islas Revillagigedo NightsnakeHypsiglena unaocularus
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
- Hypsiglena
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Hypsiglena torquata
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.