Patchnose snake
Western Patch-nosed Snake
HarmlessSalvadora hexalepis
6 photographs of the Western Patch-nosed Snake. © MarvalPhotography19.
The Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis) 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 Western Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis, the western patch-nosed snake, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake, which is endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Geographic range
It is found in the southwestern United States in the states of Arizona, southern California, Nevada, southern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas. It is also found in northern Mexico in the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora.
Subspecies
The following four subspecies are recognized:
Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis (Cope, 1866)
Salvadora hexalepis klauberi Bogert, 1945
Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis Bogert, 1945
Salvadora hexalepis virgultea Bogert, 1935 - Coast patch-nosed snake, San Luis Obispo County to Baja California
Description
Adults of Salvadora hexalepis are, on average, 20-46 inches (51–117 cm) in total length; the record total length is 58 in (150 cm).
They have a distinctive, thick scale curved back over the top of the snout, and free at the edges.
All subspecies are yellowish with blackish lateral stripes in various arrangements.
The dorsal scales are smooth, and the anal plate is divided.
Behavior
The western patch-nosed snake inhabits arid deserts in its area. It feeds upon lizards, snakes, reptile eggs, and small rodents.
Reproduction
4-10 eggs are laid during spring or early summer and hatch in August through September.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Western Patch-nosed Snake
- Is the Western Patch-nosed Snake venomous?
- No. The Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis) 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 Patch-nosed Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Western Patch-nosed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Western Patch-nosed Snake dangerous?
- The Western Patch-nosed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Western Patch-nosed Snake live?
- The Western Patch-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 Western Patch-nosed Snake?
- Slender with a bold longitudinal stripe and a large scale over the snout.
- How big does the Western Patch-nosed Snake get?
- Slender, 2–4 ft.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
More Colubridae snakes
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
Salvadora gymnorhachisSalvadora gymnorhachis
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 hexalepis
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.