Nearctica - Natural History - Snakes of North America - Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis)

Western Patch-nosed Snake

(Salvadora hexalepis)

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

Salvadora grahamiae

The Mountain Patch-nosed Snake has 8 labial scales (not 9) and 2 of them reach the eye.

Salvadora deserticola

The Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake has 9 labial scales and 2 touch the eye. In addition there is a narrow, dark lateral line below the major lateral, dark line (on scale row 4). The ranges of the Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake and the Western Patch-nosed Snake do not overlap.

Phyllorhynchus browni

Species of the Leaf-nosed Snakes (Phyllorhynchus) have an enlarged rostral scale, but this scale is free and distinctly separated from the rest of the snout,

Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis)

Identification: Snake 22 to 45 inches in length. Head with a triangular, enlarged rostral scaling curved backward and not free from the snout. A lined snake. Back with a yellow to light yellow-brown line running down the back bordered on the sides with dark, broad stripes. Head with 9 upper labial scales, only 1 sometimes reaching the eye. Scales smooth and anal plate divided.

Geographical Variation:

Desert Patch-nosed Snake (S. h. hexalepis): Top of head gray; 1 upper labial scales reaches the eye; dark, lateral stripe 3 scales rows wide. Range: South-central and southwestern Arizona westward to southeastern California, and southward into Baja California and western Mexico.

Mohave Patch-nosed Snake (S. h. mojavensis): Top of head brown; no labial scales reach the eye; dark, lateral stripe weak to sometimes near absent. Range: Mojave Desert region from northwestern Arizona and southwestern Utah, westward into east-central California and southern Nevada.

Coast Patch-nosed Snake (S. h. virgultea): Top of head brown; one labial scale reaches the eye; black, lateral stripe narrow. Range: Coastal southwestern coastal California and southward into Baja California and northwestern Mexico.

Range (see map on left): This species occupies western and parts of Central Arizona westward into southern Utah and southern Neavada, througout most of southern California. It range extends southward into Baja California and northwestern Mexico.

Habitat: The Western Patch-nosed Snake is a denizen of scrubby desert, particularly creosote desert flats and sage-brush, and sometimes chaparral.

Food: Lizards, small mammals, and small snakes.

Behavior: The Western Patch-nosed Snake is active in the daytime and moves very rapidly.

Reproduction: The clutch consists of 4 to 10 eggs, laid during the summer.

Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis)

Similar Species:

Mountain Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora grahamiae)

Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora deserticola)

Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus browni)

Similar Species