Groundsnake
Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake
HarmlessSonora palarostris
5 photographs of the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake. © Cole Wolf.
The Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake (Sonora palarostris) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 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 Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake
Chionactis palarostris, commonly known as the Sonoran Shovel-nosed snake, is a species of small nonvenomous colubrid which is a native of the Sonoran Desert in North America.
Etymology
The specific name, palarostris, is from Latin: pāla (shovel) and rōstrum (beak or snout).
Geographic range
C. palarostris is found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. In the United States it is found only in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument of western Pima County, Arizona. The subspecies occurring there is called the Organ Pipe shovelnose snake (C. p. organica). In Mexico it is found only in the state of Sonora.
Description
S. palarostris is cross-banded with black, yellow (or whitish), and red bands. Consequently, it resembles the Sonoran coral snake (Micruroides euryxanthus). The mnemonic "red on yellow kill a fellow, red on black, friend of Jack" doesn't work with this snake. However, unlike the coral snake, which has a black snout, Sonora palarostris has a yellow snout and is not venomous. Also on a coral snake, the bands go all the way around, but S. palarostris has a solid yellow belly.
The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows at midbody; ventrals, 141–181; subcaudals, 34–64, divided.
Maximum total length (including tail) of adults is 43 cm (17 in).
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Sonora palarostris organica Klauber, 1951 - Organ Pipe shovelnose snake
Sonora palarostris palarostris (Klauber, 1937) - Sonoran shovelnose snake
Behavior
S. palarostris is active in the evening and at night, mostly near washes.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake
- Is the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake venomous?
- No. The Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake (Sonora palarostris) 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 Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake dangerous?
- The Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake live?
- The Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including United States of America, Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake?
- Small and smooth-scaled; highly variable — banded, striped, or plain.
- How big does the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake get?
- Small, 8–18 in.
- Why is it called the Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake?
- The specific name, palarostris, is from Latin: pāla (shovel) and rōstrum (beak or snout).
Where it is found
By U.S. state
More Colubridae snakes
Great Plains Ground SnakeSonora episcopa
Ground SnakeSonora semiannulata
Colorado Desert Shovelnose SnakeSonora annulata
Mojave Shovelnose SnakeSonora occipitalis
Banded Sand SnakeSonora cincta
Taylor’s Ground SnakeSonora taylori
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 palarostris
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.