It's a large snake, reaching about 4' in length as an adult. So much, that it will often be seen hanging around golf courses, parks, and yards. Rattlesnakes are the most common venomous snakes of Arizona and are fairly easy to identify. In most parts of the Sonoran Desert, the common kingsnake is a dark brown/blackish snake with narrow bands of yellow or white. Most of the non-venomous snakes in Arizona fit comfortably into one of a few main groups. Western Patch-nosed Snakes (Salvadora hexalepis) are fairly common in Arizona. (Tantilla hobartsmithi) This snake can deliver a large amount of highly toxic venom and should be left alone if encountered. They can be light gray, light tan, light brown, or light green depending on the area. A montane species, it is usually found in oak-juniper and pinon-juniper woodlands but may be found at lower elevations in moist canyons. They're slender, medium-sized snakes that get up to around 3' long. Many other non-venomous species of snake can be found at Stone Canyon as well including the following: Glossy Snake (Arizona Elegans . There are also many slightly-venomous, but not dangerous, colubrids. They are often mistaken for the Mojave Rattlesnake. Adults in Arizona rarely get more than about 10" long. Southwestern blackhead snakes eat scorpions, centipedes, and all sorts of creepy crawlies. The Arizona coral snake has round pupils and a bullet-shaped head. At first, theyre bluffers and may hiss and posture, but they become quite docile once they realize that you mean them no harm. You can also simply back away and leave. The Arizona Black Rattlesnake is found in the Hualapai Mountains and Cottonwood Cliffs in the northwest of Arizona. On the end of the nose is an enlarged scale that looks like a small, bent guitar pick, which the snake uses to hunt lizards hiding in shallow sand. Multiple types of narrow or wide bands can be seen on snakes. Total Length: 76 - 110 in (76 - 279 cm) The face has an enlarged scaled shaped like an upside-down heart that they use to push through sandy soil. The stripes running down the body might give is a similar look with the gartersnake. One of the few recorded bites, which included both a subject knowledgeable in the study of snakes and photographic evidence of the snake, resulted in just swelling and discomfort; when treated with standard antivenin doses, the subject recovered in just three days. Groundsnakes are very small, with an adult size of only around 10". The venom of a Mexican vine snake wont kill you, but it may make you itch to the point where you wish it would. Feigning Death in Snakes. An extremely fast moving snake, the coachwhip quickly seizes its prey and swallows it live. A post shared by Michael Ruff (@ruff_herper). Most have the typical Gartersnake back-stripe and blotches, though usually much more subdued and in some, almost missing entirely. The desert kingsnake's dorsum is black or dark brown with yellow or off-white blotches. It is found in areas of mixed desert scrub and uses its snout to burrow in search of lizards and their eggs. It is one of three protected rattlesnake species in the state, due to limited range and collection by poachers. When threatened, a gopher snake will . It will usually grow to be 22 to 27 inches long but can be as long as 3 feet. Total length: 8 - 18 in (20 - 46 cm) The Arizona Mountain Kingsnake or Lampropeltis pyromelana may look like a coral snake at first glance, but coloring is one of its defense mechanisms! Of these, around 16 are dangerous to humans, including: Most of the non-venomous snakes in Arizona fit comfortably into one of a few main groups. From the massive, gentle Sonoran Gopher Snake to the tiny, deadly Sonoran Coral Snake, theres no shortage of stunning serpents out there for you to learn about! Non-venomous snakes have a spoon-shaped rounded head and venomous snakes will have a more triangular head. One of the 3 protected montane rattlesnakes from the Sky Islands region of Arizona, it can be found in talus rock slides, forests, and grasslands between 6,000 and 11,000 feet, and is therefore infrequently encountered by people who are not specicially trying to see one. The base colors of these snakes vary but they have unique markings of red, black, and white blotches or bands. Their coloring is usually yellow to pale brown. 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 . And Can They See in the Dark? In many US states a closely related species, the Pygmy Rattlesnake, is well-known. If you come upon a desert king snake it will usually try to flee. They can be banded, striped, red, orange, grey, olive, tan, or any combination of these colors. There are more than 3,000 venomous and non-venomous snakes across the globe. While there are several species of snake that spend time in the water, true water snakes of members of the genus Nerodia.True water snakes are excellent swimmers, and when they are not swimming, they are often found basking on rocks or trees in or near the water. (Phyllorhynchus browni) You can observe and photograph the snake from a safe distance. Bites may cause irritation and pain, but do not require hospitalization and have no long-lasting effect. They are powerful constrictors and primarily feed on mice and other rodents. Also, not all snakes use it. Most of these species are found in desert areas but Rattlesnakes are also known to be frequent visitors to golf courses and can be found out on the green. More distantly, it is sometimes mistaken for a coralsnake. 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. In Arizona, they are mostly found at higher elevations, between 4500 and 9,000, inhabiting nearly every habitat type within their range. Gaining its name from its appetite forgophers, thissnake is the longest in the Western United States. They have broad heads and narrow necks which make them quite distinctive. Lets say that the snake you find is bright red and short. The presence of a Desert Kingsnake on a property may help reduce the likelihood of rattlesnake encounters. Most of the venomous snakes in Arizona are rattlesnakes. These are exceptionally beautiful snakes that often cause even snake-haters to admit that they're pretty. (Salvadora hexalepis) When they are scared, they coil into a tight ball and hide their head under the body. The banded rock rattlesnake usually has a grey base coloration, and a series of black bands, sometimes with a very bright teal or green outline. A black snake with solid red and white bands that continue to the snakes underside, Generalists, prefer dry areas with sandy soils. Like other rattlesnakes, the Hopi Rattlesnake has a keratin rattle at the end of its tail, and each time the snake sheds its skin, a new segment is added to the rattle. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. How to Hold a Guinea Pig Correctly (with Pictures & Videos). Diet: Lizards (mostly whiptails) and their eggs, small snakes, small mammals, Mountain Patch-nosed Snake Non-venomous Snakes Found in Arizona Below are the non-venomous snakes found in Arizona. They range in size between about 7 as a hatchling, to around 3 as adults. The Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake is a harmless constrictor that is not cause for alarm if seen. Kennicott, 1859. They are no threat to humans. They're harmless and non-venomous, though if someone were to pick one up it is likely to bite. When threatened, the Gopher snake will coil its tail, shake,hiss, and then head butt any predator. The Banded Rock Rattlesnake is a small, specialized species of rattlesnake that lives in the mountainous sky islands region of extreme Southeastern Arizona. There are no aquatic snakes in Arizona. In Stone Canyon, captured snakes averaged 19.6 grams (0.04 lbs). They go through a color change as they get older, becoming darker-colored and less patterned as they age. However, these critters dont even like to bite anything! [1] They are endemic to the United States and Mexico . Night Snake Hypsiglena torquata Non-Venomous This small snake can be found on roads at night and is identified by the dark blotches on the neck and a single row of dorsal blotches. 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. Oliver (Ollie) Jones - A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve (who declined to be pictured). The base color can be brown, grey, or olive, and most visible as a dorsal stripe nearly as wide as the snake's head. The desert king snake is found in areas of Texas, Southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, and possibly other nearby states in the west. The tiger rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris, is a medium to large snake with a vibrant striped design. They are seldom seen, but live in most of the Phoenix mountain areas and desert parks. They may be pink or brown, and give off a foul smell when handled. If the snake has a rattle on its tail it is a rattlesnake, and therefore venomous. Florida Showdown: Who Emerges Victorious in a Burmese Python vs. Crocodile Battle? Species like the Western ground snake play an important role in balancing the ecosystem. Though sometimes theyll just swallow it whole. Arizona is home to 52 species of snakes. However, these shy and reclusive rattlesnakes are relatively small and prefer to live high in the mountains of Arizona, making human encounters rare and bites even rarer. It is a semi-aquatic species and is usually found near a water source. They actually do a great service for humans by eating scorpions and other pests. Their coloring is shades of brown or grey with a white-lined diamond pattern on their back. These snakes are light brown or tan with dark brown blotches down the lengths of their bodies. Arizona's amazing reptile diversity is composed of six turtle species, 49 lizard species, and 52 species of snakes. Some of the different types of nonvenomous snakes that you will find in Arizona are: Arizona milk snakes, like other milk snakes, can initially be frightening because they have a very similar color pattern to venomous coral snakes. Their heads also have a unique shape that resembles the knobbly part of a branch. They typically are just about two feet long. You may need medication to stop the itching or your bodys reaction to it. An adult snake will measure between 26 and 70 inches. Home. King Cobra vs Rattlesnake: 5 Key Differences, Cottonmouth vs Rattlesnake: 5 Key Differences, Discover the Largest Anaconda Ever (A 33, Discover the Monster Snake 5X Bigger than, The 7 Best Snake Guard Chaps You Can Buy Today. Among the snakes are 13 species of rattlesnakes, which is just over one-third of the world's rattlesnakes, and more than can be found in any other U.S. state. They are opportunistic feeders but well known for eating rattlesnakes. While isolated populations continue to exist, numbers are in decline and eventual extirpation is likely. 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. These tiny, harmless snakes are most easily identified by their black head, as the name implies. AZ Genus: Arizona. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Overview of Snakes Species in the United States. Alone, none of the identifying characteristics can give you an answer. Diet: Birds, small mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, Variable Sandsnake As a defense, black-necked gartersnakes will bite, defecate, and emit a foul smelling musk. 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