They constrict their prey because their mild venom is not effective on birds and mammals. When foraging for prey, the blind snake will search an ant pheromone trail and follow it back to the nest for a meal. Want to discover the 10 most beautiful snakes in the world, a "snake island" where you're never more than 3 feet from danger, or a "monster" snake 5X larger than an anaconda? Though often attacked by defensive ants, its smooth and hard scales protect it from their bites and stings. They are masters of disguise and easily conceal themselves in foliage. They have a highly toxic bite and should always be left alone when seen. The gopher snakes are harmless terrestrial hunters. Diet: Snakes, lizards, small turtles, reptile eggs, frogs, birds, bird eggs and small mammals, Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans) As a defense, black-necked gartersnakes will bite, defecate, and emit a foul smelling musk. (Sonora semiannulata) Most of the time these snakes are going to be light gray or light tan with dark brown or black blotches. Arkansas Venomous snakes in Arkansas: True water snakes are a group of non-venomous, aquatic snakes that are adapted to living in or near bodies of water. This small, harmless snake is not often seen. Glossy snakes have a range of colors but they are all light and look like they are faded from the sun. Adults in the Phoenix area are commonly in the 3 range, with exceptional animals approaching 4. They are harmless, but may bite if picked up and cause a few scratches. This is a Kingsnake species found in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The common garter snake is the best-known and most widespread species among the garter snakes. Repeat sightings of this species could be an indication that the home has termites, however! You may be able to differentiate it from the very similar-looking Groundsnake by the relatively short, fat appearance relative to its length. They look very similar in apperance to the Western Threadsnake, but can be differentiated by the presence of 3 scales between its eye spots, rather than a single scale. There are a lot of rattlesnakes in Arizona, in total about 13 different types! When threatened, a rattlesnake shakes it tail and makes a rattling noise as a warning. The body alternates between black bands over an orange or cream-colored base, usually fading from a rich orange color on the back to lighter colors below. 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. 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. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. Sidewinders have a famous name and are extremely common where they are found, yet are quite uncommon to see for most. If stressed, it might perform a series of dramatic, fake hisses and strikes with its mouth closed, but does not actually bite. 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. I've lived in Sedona for 15 years. In addition to being often mistaken for a Kingsnake, this snake is frequently misidentified as a Sonoran Coralsnake. Desert king snakes might seem like a threat because they have stout bodies and they can be pretty long. They are reasonably intelligent, agile snakes, that can climb trees, climb walls, fences, and are found in about any place imaginable. However, if you take a good look, its fairly easy to distinguish the coral snake from similar species. Adults in Arizona rarely get more than about 10" long. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. On this page, you can find an overview of snakes in Arizona. These are medium-sized (up to about 3' long) snakes that are often confused with the similar-looking Sonoran Gophersnake. Although highly venomous, they should not be considered dangerous. Arizona is home to 52 species of snakes. 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. 81,141 posts. Their primary diet is rodents and mice, which they kill by constricting, which is why they have such heavy heavy bodies. 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. They are very small, generally less than a foot long, and are often mistaken as baby rattlesnakes due to their triangular head and vertical eye slits. The Arizona coral snake has round pupils and a bullet-shaped head. Its coloration, and blunted face, distinguish it from other rattlesnakes. Most are desert colored meaning they have a mixture of tans, browns, and blacks. Tan, yellow, or orange in color, with dark brown blotches, between 1.5' and 5'in length. Are Hedgehogs Nocturnal? 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. This behavior, as well as the snakes physical characteristics, often cause the lyre snake to be mistaken for a rattlesnake and killed. Home. You can find them from Fort Huachuca to Santa Cruz County and throughout the rest of the state. The western shovelnose snake has a very unique facial structure. They can be found on golfcourses, parks, alleyways, and back yards throughout the city. Some adults can even change their coloring quickly, much like a chameleon! People often find them in their sheds, garages, and yards. 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. As adults, they are less than a foot long. Their pupils are elliptical. Well take a look at this group as a whole, then discuss a few significant species. They have broad heads and narrow necks which make them quite distinctive. . Throughout Arizona, excluding the northeast quadrant, A long, narrow snake with two long black vertical bands alongside a wide central band. It is a relatively small snake, with adults seldom exceeding 2 in length. They are usually anywhere from three to five feet long and prefer arid desert habitats. The black-necked gartersnake is named for large blotches on either side of its neck. Diet: Lizards (mostly whiptails) and their eggs, small snakes, small mammals, Mountain Patch-nosed Snake True to its name, the Grand Canyon Rattlesnake can only be found in Arizona and Utah. During the monsoon season each year, Longnosed Snakes hatch from eggs and wander in search of food. If youre trying to identify snakes in Phoenix, then you wont start with a list of northern Arizona snakes. Total length: 5 - 15 in (13 - 38 cm) The base colors of these snakes vary but they have unique markings of red, black, and white blotches or bands. Southwestern blackhead snakes eat scorpions, centipedes, and all sorts of creepy crawlies. They're small, usually only around a foot long. 4. It will usually grow to be 22 to 27 inches long but can be as long as 3 feet. Bot venomous and non-venomous snakes can have a banded appearance. This species is very fast,can quickly catch its prey, and swallow it whole. As hatchlings, they may completely lack any red coloration whatsoever, making them look very similar to Kingsnakes. Red next to black, friend of Jack. Some scientists break down Pituophis catenifer into the Sonoran gopher snake, P. c. affinis, and the Great Basin gopher snake, P. c. deserticola. Part of the constrictor family, this snake species will crush its prey or swallow it whole. Lets take a look. Weve made a list of some of our favorite snake species that live in Arizonas native desert habitat. So much, that it will often be seen hanging around golf courses, parks, and yards. 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. The long-nosed snake is a distinctive-looking species that youre unlikely to confuse with another snake. Its the only snake that has its particular configuration of banding. Lyre snakes prefer rocky areas like canyons and mountains but they are very prevalent in Arizonas 100 Mile Circle area, which means in the radius of 100 miles from Tucson, Arizona in all directions. The speckled rattlesnake, Crotalus pyrrhus, is light gray, and may even be white. They are the smallest species of the former Western Rattlesnake complex, reaching an adult size of under 2 feet. All species of venomous snakes in Arizona possess offensive venom used for subduing prey. They will open their mouths to hiss, and even rattle their striped tail while striking out towards a perceived threat. While they have been observed consuming rodents and amphibians, scientists note that this is rare because they prefer to eat lizards. This tiny, worm-like snake is often found inside homes and near gardens. Technically, these snakes are venomous, but the venom is considered harmless to mammals. Their primary defense is to defecate and musk when picked up, as well as occasionally bleed from the cloaca. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Overview of Snakes Species in the United States. They are heavy-bodied for their size, which can help differentiate them from the more commonly-seen variety of other small, ground-dwelling snakes. However, they are very often confused with baby Longnosed Snakes, which have a very similar pattern. Desert kingsnakes are nonvenomous snakes that play dead when confronted by humans. The Great Basin gopher snake lives in the Great Basin, while the other species exists in the Sonoran desert. The Blacktailed Rattlesnake found near Phoenix is mostly brown, tinted with yellow, orange, or green. Diet: Lizards and their eggs, Smiths Black-headed Snake Young are live- born. The Kingsnake is non-venomous and appears in yellow and black. The face has an enlarged scaled shaped like an upside-down heart that they use to push through sandy soil. 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