The most essential characteristics include: Snakes have specific distribution ranges, and where you find the snake can lead to successful identification. The color is often a slate-grey, but sometimes appears as a colorful gradient of olive green, blue, to reddish brown, with a white belly and a stripe on each side from just behind the head down the body. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Gaining its name from its appetite forgophers, thissnake is the longest in the Western United States. In fact, they are completely harmless, and it would be a challenge to try to get one to try and bite. Glossy snakes have a range of colors but they are all light and look like they are faded from the sun. Diet: Small mammals, lizards, reptile eggs, nestling birds, Western Threadsnake The western shovelnose snake has a very unique facial structure. It's a large snake, reaching about 4' in length as an adult. If the bands next to the red are black its a milk snake and you are safe. 2 recognized species, see article. The nose is flat and jutted forward like a shovel so that the snake can essentially swim through the sand. The Mojave rattlesnake is a long species, reaching lengths of 54 inches. This species diet consists of birds, frogs, toads, eggs, and lizards. Most often found near apartment/condo complexes, these snakes often escape or are released intentionally by pet owners who lose interest. Their diet consists almost entirely of lizards. Bites may cause irritation and pain, but do not require hospitalization and have no long-lasting effect. Rattlesnake bites are painful and can be deadly. They grow to a maximum length of two feet and have brightly colored bands of red, black, and cream marking their bodies. Wandering GartersnakeThamnophis elegans vagrans, Arizona Wandering GartersnakeThamnophis elegans arizonae. The lyresnake eats primarily lizards, and also preys on small rodents, bats, and birds. In that time I've seen about 4 snakes, none while hiking. Being that they are not timid around populated areas, they are a great natural solution to the rattlesnake problem. Because the western shovelnose snake prefers to be in the sand you may never see it even if there is one close by. They are found in habitats from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans, and from southern Canada into Mexico. The Mojave Rattlesnake, or "mojave green" as people like to say, is often confused for the similar-looking Western Diamondback, and visa versa. Home. Shovel-Nosed Snakes are pretty, small snakes that live throughout the sandy areas of western Arizona. As adults, they are less than a foot long. How Do Cats Show Affection? Species like the Western ground snake play an important role in balancing the ecosystem. Most of the venomous snakes in Arizona are rattlesnakes. A white vertebral stripe spans from the neck to the tail. Whether youre looking for a black and white snake in Arizona, or something else entirely, this guide will get you started. The Great Basin gopher snake lives in the Great Basin, while the other species exists in the Sonoran desert. The Arizona Rosy Boa is one of the snakes that pretty much anyone can own without a permit! Theyre common in the Camelback Mountain region, South Mountain area, and other parts of the valley adjacent to similar habitat. It has been observed that this behavior is specific to non-venomous species or those that possess a weak venom, unfit for defensive capabilities. Their diet also includes small mammals and other snakes. The Western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, is common in Nevada since it prefers habitats like deserts and scrublands. This species of Shovel-Nosed Snake are small, as are the other Shovel-nosed Snakes with white or cream and black bands and no red or orange. As the name suggests, the Glossy Snake's appearance is often shiny or, well, glossy, due to a lack of ridge (keel) on each scale as is found in the Gophersnakes. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. These snakes are often misidentified as rattlesnakes because of their head shape, vertical pupils, and tendency to coil into a tight circle when threatened. In those cases, its best to contact a wildlife trapper. The Prairie Rattlesnake can be identified by the characteristically narrow light-colored facial stripes, and dorsal blotches that are often outlined oval or bow-tie shapes. It has vertical pupils and a pair of dark blotches directly behind the head. 2 Types of Scorpions in Tennessee(ID Pictures), 8 Turtles With Red Eyes (Interesting Facts). The Gopher snake likes the sandydesert areas where it can catch rodents, lizards, and rabbits. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. The resplendent desert shovel-nosed snake is a beautifully colored species. They are often found as babies late in the year in garages, backyards, and golf courses. There is a black ring around the neck of this snake. There are also many slightly-venomous, but not dangerous, colubrids. Arizona is home to 52 species of snakes. This semi-aquatic snake can usually be found near water. This snake can top out at lengths of 5 in rare instances, but most adults end up in the 3-3.5 range. But if it doesnt slither away it may try to play dead by flipping over on its back and lying motionless until you walk away. Three subspecies are found in Arizona. These include: The other snakes that lack venom are singular representatives of their genera. , Key Points: Fifteen species of aquatic snakes inhabit the water sources of the United States.The only venomous, semi-aquatic snake in the U.S. is the cottonmouth, also called the water moccasin . They even regulate their body temperatures by moving up or down in the pile rather than basking in the sun like other snakes. Typically these snakes are just about 14 inches long. Red Coachwhips are affectionately referred to as Red Racers. They are fast as the name would imply. This will offend many predators into retreating. These are typically small snakes, with adults in the Phoenix and Tucson areas usually in the 12-18" range but elsewhere in Arizona they can reach sizes up to almost 3' long. They eat scorpions, spiders, and are great to have around the yard. They typically are just about two feet long. This species . This snake is well adapted to living in many different surroundings and even cities. While they usually live about fifteen years in the wild, they can live 30 or more years in captivity! Weve made a list of some of our favorite snake species that live in Arizonas native desert habitat. Arizona is known for its hot sun and arid conditions. This is a Kingsnake species found in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Which Ones? With hundreds of articles on everything pertaining to lizards, turtles, and snakes, our experienced team provides reliable and accurate content you can trust. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Diet: Lizards and their eggs, Smiths Black-headed Snake Most encounters with a Coachwhip are just a quick glance as it quickly slides away from the area. Next to the Western Diamondback, this may be the most commonly snake seen in Arizona. Their surface color is dark brown, and the rest of the body (from just below the eye) is white or tan). You may also find them in the yards of homes that have water sources in the yard. (Sonora semiannulata) It lives across Arizonas desert and grassland regions below the Mogollon rim, and is common throughout its range, despite being rarely seen on the surface. Its vital to tread carefully in snake habitat. The Banded Rock Rattlesnake is a small, specialized species of rattlesnake that lives in the mountainous sky islands region of extreme Southeastern Arizona. From proper husbandry and habitat guidance, to articles on health concerns, diet, and extensive care guides, Reptile Guide is here to educate everyone on all things reptiles. Its very possible that you will see a rattlesnake when you are out and about in Arizona, especially if youre in State Parks or other recreational areas. Small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, Amphibians, reptiles, birds and their eggs, Other reptiles, small mammals, and small birds, Lizards, other snakes, birds and eggs, insects, 15 20 years in the wild, 30+ in captivity, Small mammals, occasionally lizards and amphibians. It is a relatively small snake, with adults seldom exceeding 2 in length. It will average 8 to 9feet long. Part of the constrictor family, this snake species will crush its prey or swallow it whole. The Tiger Rattlesnake is often confused with the Speckled Rattlesnake, but can be easily identified by the unusually small head and overly large rattle. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. They are the smallest species of the former Western Rattlesnake complex, reaching an adult size of under 2 feet. Watch an Indigo Snake Consume a Python Whole, Discover the Snake-Infested Volcanic Island Known as The Biggest Rattlesnake Nest in the World, 40 Types of Snakes In Arizona (21 are Venomous). Being very shy, they will hide if confronted by humans. Re: Snakes . 85730, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Reptile Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Arizona rattlesnakes have slit-shaped pupils and broad heads. A complete list of snakes in Arizona is: Every day A-Z Animals sends out some of the most incredible facts in the world from our free newsletter. They usually grow 3 to 4 feet long but may exceed 6.8 feet. Being a constrictor, they will press or squeeze their prey. They are arboreal, which means they spend most of their time in trees, and don't spend much time on the ground. There are more than 3,000 venomous and non-venomous snakes across the globe. Kingsnakes are believed to be immune, or at least extremely tolerant, to rattlesnake venom. This is meant as a deterrant to predators, who may not want a mouthful of nasty goop. The grand canyon rattlesnake is tan, yellowish, or pink in color; a good match for the colorful rocky areas that make up the majority of its range. They're often mistaken for Speckled Rattlesnakes, which do not live near Tucson. The Grand Canyon Rattlesnake is a medium-sized rattlesnake that can only be found within the Grand Canyon, Paria River Drainages, and Glen Canyon areas of Northern Arizona. Southwestern blackhead snakes are completely harmless to humans. The Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) is Arizonas official state reptile! The name Coachwhip comes from this snakes resemblance to the horse whips used by old-fashioned stagecoach drivers. The Arizona Black rattlesnake is a thick-bodied snake. The belly is white or cream, sometimes pink. The banding is also more complete at the sides, where a Longnosed Snakes bands may include blotches of white or grey on each side. Unlike the tiger rattlesnake and the Western diamondback rattlesnake, this species is light. Adults are around 3 feet long. A black snake with solid red and white bands that continue to the snakes underside, Generalists, prefer dry areas with sandy soils. Chock full of desert, rocks, and grasslands. Its the only snake that has its particular configuration of banding. . They're often mistaken for young Groundsnakes, which also often appear with a black head, but can be differentiated by the presence of a red or pink stripe on the belly. The common garter snake is the best-known and most widespread species among the garter snakes. They are usually anywhere from three to five feet long and prefer arid desert habitats. This snake has an enlarged scale on its snout that looks similar to that of a patch-nosed snake, except that the scale has free edges. However, the Hopi rattlesnakes rattle is exceptionally brittle and breaks off much easier than the average rattlesnake. Until recently, scientists considered the desert king snake to be a subspecies of Lampropeltis getula, like the California king snake or the eastern king snake. The face has an enlarged scaled shaped like an upside-down heart that they use to push through sandy soil. In this article, well share some Arizona snakes in pictures, and other things you need to know, including: Well also share useful resources at the end of the article to help you deal with snakes. (Leptotyphlops humilis) It can be found throughout Charina trivirgata, the rosy boa, is a small type of boa native to California, Arizona as well as Northern Mexico Rena dulcis, the Texas blind snake, is a small snake endemic to the Southern United States and Northern Mexico. Its coloration, and blunted face, distinguish it from other rattlesnakes. They're very small snakes, reaching an adult size of only around 2 feet. They're harmless, but might give a minor bite (some scratches) of picked up. Sonoran gopher snakes are only generally about four feet long but they look bigger because they have very wide bodies. Here are ten snakes that you might see in Arizona. Young are live- born. The western terrestrial garter snake is a harmless snake species that can be found throughout the Western United States. Also often called a "red racer", Coachwhips are long, thin snakes that can reach lengths of up to around 5. The western patch-nose snake does not constrict its prey, but it does throw loops of its body over the prey, pinning it down until it can be swallowed. Imagine Seeing This 30-Foot Sea Snake in the Open Ocean Gulp! They are commonly seen in mountains North of Phoenix. Well take a look at this group as a whole, then discuss a few significant species. Mexican vine snakes are very slender and usually between three and six feet long. Coachwhips can help reduce rattlesnakes in an area because they are rattlesnake-eaters. They should always be left alone if encountered. These are also sometimes called coon-tail rattlesnakes. The species contains eleven subspecies that can be Crotalus Atrox Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Micruroides Euryxanthus Arizona Coral Snake, Crotalus Cerastes Sidewinder Rattlesnake, Sonora Semiannulata Western Ground Snake, Masticophis Taeniatus Striped Whipsnake, Lampropeltis Splendida Desert Kingsnake, Lampropeltis Californiae California Kingsnake, Indotyphlops Braminus Brahminy Blind Snake, Pituophis Catenifer Pacific Gopher Snake, Thamnophis Elegans Western Terrestrial Garter Snake, Thamnophis Sirtalis Common Garter Snake. Their diet includes lizards, small turtles, eggs, and rattlesnakes! This small, worm-like snake may reach up to 16 inches in length, but its rarely thicker than a pencil. These snakes also sport a v-shaped marking on their heads, which supposedly resembles a lyre. They are great at getting into small cracks and even get through pipes, and end up on kitchen counters, in bathroom sinks, and all kinds of surprising places. The face has an enlarged scaled shaped like an upside-down heart that they use to push through sandy soil. 7 years ago. The varied geography and diverse selection of small animals for the snakes to hunt makes Arizona an excellent destination for snake sightings. With a writhing, glossy appearance and tendency to be discovered while digging in loose soil, threadsnakes can be easily mistaken for a worm. We hope youve enjoyed this article about Arizona snakes. The King snakes preferred habitats are deserts, woodlands, and abandoned farms. As you might expect Arizona has a lot of snakes that are known for thriving in extremely dry and hot climates. Due to superficial similarities in appearance, the unrelated Desert Nightsnake is often misidentified as a Twin Spotted Rattlesnake by concerned home owners searching online. Their venom can quickly kill its prey, but is not something that should be considered harmful to humans or pets. True water snakes are a group of non-venomous, aquatic snakes that are adapted to living in or near bodies of water. This non-venomous snake grows to an average of about eight inches long, making it a manageable pet for some reptile enthusiasts. Then sign up right now and you'll start receiving our daily newsletter absolutely free. These species include: According to iNaturalist, the following ten species are the most commonly sighted snakes in Arizona: Arizona has more venomous snakes than most other states. Its also responsible for most of the rattlesnake bites in the US every year. Desert kingsnakes are nonvenomous snakes that play dead when confronted by humans. They can be most easily identified by their distinct sideways motion (sidewinding), where the snake throws a loop of its body forward and pulls the rest along rather quickly. First noted by Robert Kennicott in letters to his mentor Spencer Baird in 1859, the Glossy Snake has nine recognized subspecies. Total length:12 - 20 in (30 - 51 cm) A post shared by Cloud Colubrids (@cloudcolubrids). If you come across a snake that has bright red bands look at the color next to the bands. Acting as a food source for predators like badgers and eagles. Extremely variable in color and pattern, they can be found in brilliant yellow, nearly black-and-white, brown, grey, and appear nearly patternless to high-contrast black and gold - all within the same community. Save. Black-Tailed Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus, Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake Crotalus willardi, Twin-spotted Rattlesnake Crotalus pricei, Arizona Black Rattlesnake Crotalus cerberus, Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake Crotalus pyrrhus, Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox, Western Massasauga Sistrurus tergeminus, 22 inches (Western Massasauga) to 66 inches (Western diamondback rattlesnake), The Arizona Black Rattlesnake is solid black, Broad, shield-shaped heads and elliptical pupils, Stout-bodied, robust snakes in shades of grey and brown, Final scales on the tails adapted to form a stiff rattle, Ranges from desert to prairie and grassland. This is the species of Shovel-nosed Snake homeowners may find in the sandy areas around Phoenix. When threatened, the Gopher snake will coil its tail, shake,hiss, and then head butt any predator. It prefers areas with sandy soils. Sonoran CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum cingulum, Lined CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum lineatulus, Red CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum piceus. Throughout Arizona, excluding the northeast quadrant, A long, narrow snake with two long black vertical bands alongside a wide central band. The stripes have a slight saw-tooth look to them, unlike the straight stripes of the Eastern Patch-Nosed Snake. Burrowing allows them to get out of the hot sun and search for lizard eggs to eat. It frequents brushy areas, especially near canyon bottoms and streams. Snakes by US State Snake Image Gallery Snake Identification Privacy Policy Cookie Policy About Contact. Total length: 8 - 18 in (20 - 46 cm) Alaska has no snake species. Coloration is usually drab shades of brown or grey. I've lived in Sedona for 15 years. Total length: 30 - 85 in (76 - 216 cm) Rattlesnakes are the most common venomous snakes of Arizona and are fairly easy to identify. They can also change color to some degree, becoming more light or dark depending on various circumstances. Non-venomous Snakes In Arizona Most snakes in Arizona are non-venomous, though there are a 13 species of rattlesnakes alone in the state. Unlike other large-bodied rattlesnakes in the area, they have a solid black tail area just before the rattle, as opposed to rings or stripes. Similar to the coachwhip, the Sonoran whipsnake is smaller and greenish-gray in color with two or three light colored stripes on each side of its body. The coachwhip is a long, slender snake. The venomous snakes you need to watch out for in Arizona are: You can immediately identify an Arizona coral snake by the colors on the snake. Like the Common King snake, they too are immune to Rattlesnake venom and like to make meals of them. Feigning death is known as playing possum, and it isn't a snake-specific behavior. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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Its appetite forgophers, thissnake is the best-known and most widespread species among the garter.. Vertical pupils and a pair of dark blotches directly behind the head NPS app before your next visit, the...