Glossy snake
Western Glossy Snake
HarmlessArizona occidentalis
The Western Glossy Snake (Arizona occidentalis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Also called
- Glossy snake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- 2–4 ft.
- Habitat
- Deserts and arid grasslands.
- Behavior
- Nocturnal burrower; a gophersnake look-alike but harmless.
- Identify
- Smooth, glossy, faded-looking blotches on a tan body.
About the Western Glossy Snake
The Western Glossy Snake 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, Arizona, covers glossy snakes. Glossy snakes are smooth, faded-looking colubrids of the arid American Southwest, often mistaken for the gopher snakes they resemble.
The Western Glossy Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check. Smooth, glossy, faded-looking blotches on a tan body.
2–4 ft. Deserts and arid grasslands.
It has been recorded in the United States of America and Mexico. In the United States it turns up in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Western Glossy Snake
- Is the Western Glossy Snake venomous?
- No. The Western Glossy Snake (Arizona occidentalis) 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 Western Glossy Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Western Glossy Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Western Glossy Snake dangerous?
- The Western Glossy Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Western Glossy Snake live?
- The Western Glossy 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 Western Glossy Snake?
- Smooth, glossy, faded-looking blotches on a tan body.
- How big does the Western Glossy Snake get?
- 2–4 ft.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
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
- Arizona
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Arizona occidentalis
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.