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Groundsnake

Sonora fasciata

Harmless

This species has no widely used English common name.

Sonora fasciata
Sonora fasciata, © Sula Vanderplank
Sonora fasciataSonora fasciataSonora fasciataSonora fasciata

5 photographs of the Sonora fasciata. © Sula Vanderplank.

Sonora fasciata is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.

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 Sonora fasciata

Sonora fasciata, the variable sand snake or banded sand snake, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.

The snake is found in Mexico.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Sonora fasciata

Is the Sonora fasciata venomous?
No. The Sonora fasciata 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 Sonora fasciata poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sonora fasciata is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Sonora fasciata dangerous?
The Sonora fasciata is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Sonora fasciata live?
The Sonora fasciata has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
How do I identify the Sonora fasciata?
Small and smooth-scaled; highly variable — banded, striped, or plain.
How big does the Sonora fasciata get?
Small, 8–18 in.

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
Sonora
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Sonora fasciata

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.