The rattlesnakes in Arizona include: Snakes can hide very well in the desert, and much of Arizonas landscape is desert. Didn't find what you need? When scared or threatened, the Night snake will ball up and hide its head. The Arizona Black Rattlesnake, or Crotalus cerberus, is found in the Hualapai Mountains and Cottonwood Cliffs in northwest Arizona. The species has 2 color variations, but in Saguaro National Park they are whitish to reddish-orange in color with 19 to 49 black or brown bands. Fortunately, these snakes have a set of characteristics that make them easy to spot. This species has an olive green to the bluish gray base with a yellow or orange band around its neck. They actually do a great service for humans by eating scorpions and other pests. They constrict their prey, pressing it against a solid surface or swallow it live. . Light brown with dark grey-brown blotches or stripes. The state of Arizona has 27 spider species, three of them known for their venomous bite, being potentially dangerous to humans. You may also find Arizona coral snakes and western coral snakes. When disturbed, the gophersnake will put on a defensive show. The western shovelnose snake has a very unique facial structure. Total length: 36 - 202 in (91 - 260 cm) The Massasauga is the only species of the genus Sistrurus, found in Arizona. A countersunken lower jaw allows the to burrow. A black snake with solid red and white bands that continue to the snakes underside, Generalists, prefer dry areas with sandy soils. If you are close to a rattlesnake you may hear the rattle before you even see the snake. Gaining its name from its appetite forgophers, thissnake is the longest in the Western United States. A close look at the head, however reveals two dark spots the vestigial remnants of eyes. Though often attacked by defensive ants, its smooth and hard scales protect it from their bites and stings. Tan, yellow, or orange in color, with dark brown blotches, between 1.5' and 5'in length. As the name suggests, this snakes best defense is its ability to slither quickly away from predators. The striped whipsnake is a nonvenomous snake found in the Western and Southern United States and in Northwestern Mexico. Their primary diet is rodents and mice, which they kill by constricting, which is why they have such heavy heavy bodies. They are usually calm, but will stand their ground when threatened. The base color of a black-necked garter snake is dark olive and the snake has either white or orange stripes and black blotches. It will usually grow to be 22 to 27 inches long but can be as long as 3 feet. The Banded Rock Rattlesnake is a small, specialized species of rattlesnake that lives in the mountainous sky islands region of extreme Southeastern Arizona. This harmless constrictor closely resembles venomous coral snakes, and this mimicry might be used as self defense. Diet: Lizards and their eggs, Smiths Black-headed Snake It is a medium-sized, harmless snake. Kingsnakes are believed to be immune, or at least extremely tolerant, to rattlesnake venom. These include: Shovel-nosed Snakes Mohave Shovel-Nosed Snake - Chionactis occipitalis Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake - Chionactis palarostris Resplendent Desert Shovel-Nosed Snake - Chionactis annulata Hook-nosed Snakes They also have two very visible 'horns' above the eyes, which helps the sidewinder live in sandy environments. While they have been observed consuming rodents and amphibians, scientists note that this is rare because they prefer to eat lizards. However, keep in mind that there are only about five deaths occur annually from snake bites in the United States. Diet: centipedes, sand-burrowing cockroaches, ant pupae and other insects, Western Groundsnake When foraging for prey, the blind snake will search an ant pheromone trail and follow it back to the nest for a meal. The vine snake looks almost exactly like a branch, which is where it gets its name. Scientific name: Lampropeltus californiae. Both venomous and non-venomous. During the monsoon season each year, Longnosed Snakes hatch from eggs and wander in search of food. Kennicott, 1859. Bites may cause irritation and pain, but do not require hospitalization and have no long-lasting effect. Mature adults can appear to be all but patternless. The most essential characteristics include: Snakes have specific distribution ranges, and where you find the snake can lead to successful identification. Thank you for reading! Sonoran CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum cingulum, Lined CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum lineatulus, Red CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum piceus. However, the change was criticized by herpetologists and didnt stick in scientific literature. They are found across the U.S., with western populations preferring moist habitats. The varied geography and diverse selection of small animals for the snakes to hunt makes Arizona an excellent destination for snake sightings. These are medium-sized (up to about 3' long) snakes that are often confused with the similar-looking Sonoran Gophersnake. They can be a variety of colors; brown and tan is most common, though they also may be red, pink, orange, or black. 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 . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. If youre trying to identify snakes in Phoenix, then you wont start with a list of northern Arizona snakes. The Speckled Rattlesnakes is highly variable in color, from a white/grey in the South Mountain and White Tanks areas, brown in North Phoenix, and orange and red going North into Cave Creek and the Anthem areas. They are often found as babies during August and September, having found their way into garages and homes. On this page, you can find an overview of snakes in Arizona. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. They are primarily snake eaters, but also eat lizards and invertebrates. Lets take a closer look. Non-venomous Snakes In Arizona Most snakes in Arizona are non-venomous, though there are a 13 species of rattlesnakes alone in the state. Though venomous, it constricts prey while venom is delivered by a chewing action. Unlike the other species of Gartersnakes in the state, they can be quite colorful. They are quick to flee, but will almost certainly bite if handled. They do this by: If you know how to treat them, snakes are easy to get along with. Their diet includes frogs, toads, tadpoles, lizards, and fish. 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 color is generally grey or tan, with a series of darker blotches or saddles that extend the length of the body. It has a very long tail, and the snake is slender. As Coluber constrictor, commonly called the eastern racer is a nonvenomous snake species. Arizona is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. Fully grown, they will measure anywhere from 30 to 85 inches long. Some Arizona snakes are rarely seen, while others may show up in your backyard! Three subspecies are found in Arizona. Save. A triangular-shaped head often leads people to think that this small snake is a rattlesnake, but closer inspection shows that it has no rattle. Attractivecontrasting banding of black and white or yellow and white encompasses their entire body. A post shared by Michael Ruff (@ruff_herper). Though they will also be found near swamps, streams, and lakes. Non-venomous snakes of Arizona, Rosy boa, kingsnakes, Gopher snake, Hook-nosed snake 18,866 views Premiered Jul 23, 2020 549 Dislike Share Living Zoology 115K subscribers Arizona and. Learn more. These snakes live in the desert southwest regions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Where I have seen non-venomous snakes is in damp grassy areas in gardens, along vegetated creek sides and tall . The adult snake grows to an average length of 32-48 in. The western rattlesnake or prairie rattlensnake, is a venomous snake species that can be found in the Mid-West of the Crotalus oreganus, commonly called the (Northern) Pacific rattlesnake is a venomous rattlesnake found in Western America from British Columbia in Crotalus cerastes, commonly called the sidewinder rattlesnake or the horned rattlesnake is a small venomous pit viper snake. Read More Sonora Semiannulata - Western Ground Snake A post shared by Stampede Reptiles (@stampedereptiles). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake is the Arizona state reptile. Diet: Salamanders, small frogs, tadpoles, lizards, small snakes, insects, earthworms, Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake Snakes in this genus are much smaller than those in the genus Crotalus, and this species reaches lengths of up to 36 inches. Bot venomous and non-venomous snakes can have a banded appearance. 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. This beautiful snake has red, black, and white crossbands, with the red bands bordered by thin bands of black. But, what snakes can we go out and see in real life? It's a large snake, reaching about 4' in length as an adult. For example, the Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake is very common in the right places, but the sight of one in the wild by a hiker or homeowner is quite rare. They are the smallest species of the former Western Rattlesnake complex, reaching an adult size of under 2 feet. Desert king snakes might seem like a threat because they have stout bodies and they can be pretty long. The Kingsnake is non-venomous and appears in yellow and black. Theyre common in the Camelback Mountain region, South Mountain area, and other parts of the valley adjacent to similar habitat. An unusual characteristic is a scale on the tip of its nose. These can go all around their bodies or may be interrupted ventrally. Most encounters with a Coachwhip are just a quick glance as it quickly slides away from the area. Usually an adult will be no more than 15 to 18 inches long. The long-nosed snake is a distinctive-looking species that youre unlikely to confuse with another snake. Total Length: 76 - 110 in (76 - 279 cm) However, the Hopi rattlesnakes rattle is exceptionally brittle and breaks off much easier than the average rattlesnake. There are no aquatic snakes in Arizona. They are harmless, but may bite if picked up and cause a few scratches. Total length: 24 - 67 in (61 - 170 cm) These include: The other snakes that lack venom are singular representatives of their genera. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. AZ Their surface color is dark brown, and the rest of the body (from just below the eye) is white or tan). They can be found on the surface in early Spring and late-night during warmer times. The Coachwhip can be found in sandy soil, pine forests, and coastal dunes. The face has an enlarged scaled shaped like an upside-down heart that they use to push through sandy soil. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. 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. 7 years ago. The grey or brown body usually has a number of black or brown blotches that often fade away mid-body, and a bright yellow or cream-colored stripe runs along the back from head to tail. These tiny, harmless snakes are most easily identified by their black head, as the name implies. They can grow up to six feet long although typically they are more like five feet long. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Adults in Arizona rarely get more than about 10" long. Theyre only about eight inches long. There is a black ring around the neck of this snake. That is a good thing. 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. When threatened, a rattlesnake shakes it tail and makes a rattling noise as a warning. The Western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, is the largest species of rattlesnake. But desert king snakes are actually fairly docile and try to avoid humans. These guys belong on your bucket list. It can be distinquished from the western diamondback by the striping on the tail. They range in size between about 7 as a hatchling, to around 3 as adults. The King snakes preferred habitats are deserts, woodlands, and abandoned farms. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Snakes are a common creature both in the real world and in folklore. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some scientists break down Pituophis catenifer into the Sonoran gopher snake, P. c. affinis, and the Great Basin gopher snake, P. c. deserticola. Slow-moving and non-aggressive, bites are easily avoided simply by not approaching or attacking one when encountered. They look very similar in apperance to the New Mexico Threadsnake, but can be differentiated by the presence of a single scale between its eye spots, rather than a 3 individual scales. It is nocturnal, and rarely seen. The snake will mostly play dead when surprised by a predator . Both venomous and non-venomous. You can also simply back away and leave. They're often mistaken for Speckled Rattlesnakes, which do not live near Tucson. While night snakes are venomous, they generally pose no threat to humans. Although they are small, this snake can give a very bad bite and should never be bothered. Longnosed Snakes are usually patterned with speckled black and white bands, with varying amounts of red or orange coloration. If the red bands lie next to the yellow ones, its probably a coral snake. Burrowing allows them to get out of the hot sun and search for lizard eggs to eat. It is named for both its nose scale and the dark brown blotches or saddles on its back. They are tiny (like a stir straw), and usually shiny or "wet" in appearance, though they are not slimy, and the color of dark coffee.Similar to our native threadsnakes, they are completely harmless and can be ignored, or put outside if found indoors. Total Length: 18 - 42 in (46 - 107 cm) It has alternating black . They are considered to ne beneficial snakes, as a regular predator of venomous rattlesnakes. 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. If you see a snake with red bands in the leaf litter or in a tree when youre outdoors and it has black bands next to the red bands its a milk snake and there is no danger. Arizona is home to 52 species of snakes. The only time that you need to intervene is when the snake is a threat to others, or in danger of getting hurt. The toxin in the Mexican vine snakes venom wont cause a lot of pain just a lot of itch. Opheodrys aestivus. Sonoran gopher snakes are only generally about four feet long but they look bigger because they have very wide bodies. The place we have most often been called out to retrive them from is the garage, where they get stuck in glue traps or are found under boxes in the Spring. Diet: Lizards, snakes, small mammals, frogs, Sonoran Whipsnake This snake is usually a reddish-brown color, and some are crossbanded with black. We hope youve enjoyed this article about Arizona snakes. Due to this snake's small size, generally 15-18 inches, its fangs are very short and penetrate human skin with difficulty. (Thamnophis cyrtopsis) Patch-Nosed Snakes are most often encountered on dirt roads in the morning or late afternoon by hikers as they bask in the sun, then quickly dart off the road. Although highly venomous, they should not be considered dangerous. They're quick, and most people only get a glimpse of them before they disappear, which often leads to misidentificaiton as a Coachwhip or Whipsnake. They are one of two species of Boa found in the state, the Three-Lined Boa (formerly considered a subspecies of Rosy Boa) are secretive snakes found in mountains of western Arizona. Total length: 30 - 85 in (76 - 216 cm) Instead, the snakes mostly prey on spiders and insects. The light-colored, squared nose can be used to distinguish this snake from the rounded, dark snout of the milksnake. Coloration is usually drab shades of brown or grey. They are no threat to humans. Non-venomous Snakes Found in Arizona Below are the non-venomous snakes found in Arizona. If you come upon a desert king snake it will usually try to flee. . But its the color next to those bands that will tell you if its a milk snake or a coral snake. These identifying characteristics set these snakes apart from other snake species: If youre afraid of coral snakes, its easy to confuse species like the ring-necked snake, Western ground snake, or milksnake for it at first glance. This individual is one of a pair collected under permit from AZGFD to represent the species in educational presentations, and provide legal, captive-born specimens to Arizona educational programs. The Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) is Arizona's official state reptile! They look very similar to the Banded Sandsnakes, Groundsnakes and other species of Shovel-nosed Snake. These snakes are light brown or tan with dark brown blotches down the lengths of their bodies. Feigning Death in Snakes. They're small, usually only around a foot long. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Black-necked Gartersnake You may suffer from itching, swelling, pain, and other symptoms but a bite from a lyre snake has led to zero reported fatalities. Most of the time, people get bitten because they accidentally step on a snake. This species is only found in Arizona in sandy areas of Mohave County. They go through a color change as they get older, becoming darker-colored and less patterned as they age. 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. If stressed, it might perform a series of dramatic, fake hisses and strikes with its mouth closed, but does not actually bite. Arizona's amazing reptile diversity is composed of six turtle species, 49 lizard species, and 52 species of snakes. They are generally small (3' or less) and have an unusually small head compared to other rattlesnake species. Species like the Western ground snake play an important role in balancing the ecosystem. Though its only found in Arizona and Utah, it can be found in several habitats within these areas, including forests, cliff slopes, grasslands, and, of course, around the rims and floor of the Grand Canyon. Coachwhips can help reduce rattlesnakes in an area because they are rattlesnake-eaters. If you come across a snake that has bright red bands look at the color next to the bands. This is why folks will often find them in their kitchens or bathrooms. Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans) Variable Sandsnake (Chilomeniscus stramineus) Western Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis annulata) Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis palarostris) Mexican vine snakes are very slender and usually between three and six feet long.