Long-nosed Snake

(Rhinocheilus lecontei)

"Western Long-nosed Snake"

Color Photographs: Chris Brown, U.S. Geological Survey

"Texas Long-nosed Snake"

Color Photograph: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)

Identification: Snake 22 to 41 inches in length. A vaguely banded snake of black, white, and red. Snout elongate and slightly pointed. Black bands heavily spotted with white and white bands heavily spotted with black. Most scales under the tail in a single row. Scales smooth and anal plate single.

Geographical Variation:

Western Long-nosed Snake (R. l. lecontei): Tip of snout not distinctly turned upward. Range: California, Nevada, soutnern Idaho, and western Utah, southward into Baja California, southern, and western Arizona.

Texas Long-Nosed Snake (R. l. tessellatus): Snout sharp with the tip distinctly turned upward at the tip. Range: Texas, southward into northern Mexico, and northward into Kansas, New Mexico, and southwestern Kansas.

Range (see map below): The Long-nosed Snake is found throughout most of the south and central western United States from Texas in the east to central California in the West.

Habitat: This species is found in short grass prairie, brushland, and California chaparral.

Food: Prey include small snakes, rodents, and lizards.

Behavior: A nocturnal snake, burrowing during the day. When disturbed, this species shakes its tail and everts its anal vent exuding blood and feces.

Reproduction:  The clutch consists of 4 to 11 eggs laid from June to August.

Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)

Similar Species:

The black spotting in the white bands and the white spotting in the black bands make this species distinctive and unlikely to be confused with any other North American species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species