Young are live- born. The Gopher snake is one of the most commonly seen in Arizona. Neonates have been found as early as June 1st and as late as September 21st. Snakes are a common creature both in the real world and in folklore. It spends its time moving around sandy soil searching for invertebrates to eat, and is rarely seen in the daytime. 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. Most of the snakes in Arizona are non-venomous. Adults in Arizona rarely get more than about 10" long. When threatened, the Gopher snake will coil its tail, shake,hiss, and then head butt any predator. It is pale brown, bordered on each side with several dark stripes. Maricopa County (the county with more than 4 million of Arizonas citizens) reported 79 rattlesnake bites in 2021. This snake is named for the v-shaped lyre on its head. It will average 8 to 9feet long. 229 reviews. You can find them from Fort Huachuca to Santa Cruz County and throughout the rest of the state. An adult snake can grow to be 20 to 60 inches. This is the species of Shovel-nosed Snake homeowners may find in the sandy areas around Phoenix. Arizona has the most venomous snakes of any state. It has a pale, brown dorsal stripe bordered by one dark stripe. The belly is white or cream, sometimes pink. The color is often a slate-grey, but sometimes appears as a colorful gradient of olive green, blue, to reddish brown, with a white belly and a stripe on each side from just behind the head down the body. Also often called a "red racer", Coachwhips are long, thin snakes that can reach lengths of up to around 5. Black-necked Gartersnake document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Reptile.Guide is the preferred educational source on reptiles favored by experienced herptologists and new owners alike. As the name implies, two large, black blotches are right behind the lighter-colored head. Red next to yellow, kill a fellow. This snake can top out at lengths of 5 in rare instances, but most adults end up in the 3-3.5 range. I've lived in Sedona for 15 years. They are not venomous, but can give a painful bite if they are stressed. Diet: Centipedes, millipedes, insects, Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake Their heads also have a unique shape that resembles the knobbly part of a branch. The grand canyon rattlesnake is tan, yellowish, or pink in color; a good match for the colorful rocky areas that make up the majority of its range. 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. If you are close to a rattlesnake you may hear the rattle before you even see the snake. They are often found as babies late in the year in garages, backyards, and golf courses. Eleven of the reptile species, such as twin-spotted rattlesnakes . There were no recorded deaths from coral snake bites from 1967, when an antivenin was produced, until 2006 when an untreated patient died but dont stop worrying just yet; the antivenin hasnt been commercially produced since 2003. This beautiful snake has red, black, and white crossbands, with the red bands bordered by thin bands of black. Diet: Snakes, lizards, small turtles, reptile eggs, frogs, birds, bird eggs and small mammals, Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans) A white vertebral stripe spans from the neck to the tail. You may also find them in the yards of homes that have water sources in the yard. 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. The Eastern Racer snake will grow to be anywhere from 20 to 60 inches. The Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake is similar in appearance to the other Shovel-nosed snakes in the state, appearing in varying amounts of white or cream, orange-red, and black bands. Snakes - Tucson Herpetological Society. The striped whipsnake is a nonvenomous snake found in the Western and Southern United States and in Northwestern Mexico. A coral snake will have yellow bands next to the red bands. It is called a lyre snake because head markings that resemble a lyre harp. The Tiger Rattlesnake has an unusually potent venom and should always be left alone if encountered. The Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake is a harmless constrictor that is not cause for alarm if seen. It may coil up, flatten its head into a triangular shape, hiss loudly, and shake its tail, to appear and sound like a rattlesnake. Sonoran GophersnakePituophis catenifer affinis, Great Basin GophersnakePituophis catenifer deserticola. If captured, the snake will continuously bite until released. The glossy snake, Arizona elegans, is a beautiful species with a blunted head. The Arizona Black rattlesnake is a thick-bodied snake. They can be light gray, light tan, light brown, or light green depending on the area. In AZ, this snake is only found in the extreme North Western Great Basin desert and Arizona Strip regions, up to 8,000 feet in elevation. The Great Basin gopher snake lives in the Great Basin, while the other species exists in the Sonoran desert. Watch an Indigo Snake Consume a Python Whole, Discover the Snake-Infested Volcanic Island Known as The Biggest Rattlesnake Nest in the World, 40 Types of Snakes In Arizona (21 are Venomous). Southern and Western Arizona, stretching into the Northwest, Yellowish base color with orange and black bands which break into speckles on the side of the snake. Multiple types of narrow or wide bands can be seen on snakes. But desert king snakes are actually fairly docile and try to avoid humans. There are more than 3,000 venomous and non-venomous snakes across the globe. While night snakes are venomous, they generally pose no threat to humans. Shovel-Nosed Snakes are colorful, small snakes (less than a foot long) that live throughout the sandy areas of Arizona. It gets its name from its resemblance to the whip used by stagecoach drivers. Due to superficial similarities in appearance, the unrelated Desert Nightsnake is often misidentified as a Twin Spotted Rattlesnake by concerned home owners searching online. A post shared by Micah Hanbury (@a_wild_hanbury_has_appeared). Be extremely wary of that snake and back off slowly. They are harmless, but may bite if picked up and cause a few scratches. They can be found on golfcourses, parks, alleyways, and back yards throughout the city. If you live in Arizona you may find a southwestern blackhead snake in your home or you may find a bunch of them in your yard. A montane species, it is usually found in oak-juniper and pinon-juniper woodlands but may be found at lower elevations in moist canyons. Here are ten snakes that you might see in Arizona. They are commonly seen in mountains North of Phoenix. These can go all around their bodies or may be interrupted ventrally. As you might expect Arizona has a lot of snakes that are known for thriving in extremely dry and hot climates. How Do Cats Show Affection? Head shape. There are also many slightly-venomous, but not dangerous, colubrids. Attractivecontrasting banding of black and white or yellow and white encompasses their entire body. Most often found near apartment/condo complexes, these snakes often escape or are released intentionally by pet owners who lose interest. Have some feedback for us? How to Hold a Guinea Pig Correctly (with Pictures & Videos). You may suffer from itching, swelling, pain, and other symptoms but a bite from a lyre snake has led to zero reported fatalities. Most have the typical Gartersnake back-stripe and blotches, though usually much more subdued and in some, almost missing entirely. Total length: 8 - 34 in (20.3 - 8.7 cm) The Sonoran Coral Snake, also known as the Arizona Coral Snake or the Western Coral Snake, is another reclusive snake known for its vibrant red, black, and yellow stripes. Mexican vine snakes are very slender and usually between three and six feet long. If you take a closer look at the head and pupil shape, it will give you further clues. Wandering GartersnakeThamnophis elegans vagrans, Arizona Wandering GartersnakeThamnophis elegans arizonae. There are no aquatic snakes in Arizona. The snake will mostly play dead when surprised by a predator . The common kingsnake is found from deserts to riparian areas to forests. As adults, they are less than a foot long. Additionally, the gape of the snake is small and the venom yield . In most other species, theres a black band between the red and the yellow bands. With hundreds of articles on everything pertaining to lizards, turtles, and snakes, our experienced team provides reliable and accurate content you can trust. Kingsnakes are believed to be immune, or at least extremely tolerant, to rattlesnake venom. Both venomous and non-venomous. The long-nosed snake is a nonvenomous snake found in arid habitats in the Western United States. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. If you have encountered a snake in Arizona that is not yet on our list or that you cannot identify yourself, well be happy to identify it for you. There are a lot of rattlesnakes in Arizona, in total about 13 different types! Some Arizona snakes are rarely seen, while others may show up in your backyard! In Arizona, the remaining tobosa grass habitat of the Massasauga is in decline due to development and grazing of cattle. They're long (up to 5' 6' long as adults) and slender and usually disappear quickly into bushes when disturbed. Its also responsible for most of the rattlesnake bites in the US every year. The A. in the species name stands for Arizona! Adults are commonly in the 3 range. Save. Being very shy, they will hide if confronted by humans. And Can They See in the Dark? They are generally quick to be defensive, and quite venomous, so keep your distance and leave it alone if encountered. While they are common in the sandy soil and grasslands where they live, they are relatively elusive. They can be most easily identified by their distinct sideways motion (sidewinding), where the snake throws a loop of its body forward and pulls the rest along rather quickly. This species is only found in Arizona in sandy areas of Mohave County. They live in flat, sandy scrubland desert, and avoid rocky areas and hills. The most common rattlesnake in the Phoenix area is the Western Diamondback. This snake has a reputation of being an overly dangerous snake, as it is quick to become defensive and has a powerful neurotoxin in many parts of its range. Some Arizona snakes are rarely seen, while others may show up in your backyard! Total length: 22 - 47 in (56 - 119 cm) You may also find Arizona coral snakes and western coral snakes. Arizona's amazing reptile diversity is composed of six turtle species, 49 lizard species, and 52 species of snakes. Many experts consider the Mojave rattlesnake to be the most toxic snake species in the US. This is large snake, capable to reach 5 feet of length. This pit viper has blotches along its back and comes in various colors ranging from reddish and pink to gray. This small, harmless snake is one of the most rarely-seen species that lives along the highly-urbanized areas of Phoenix and Tucson. However, these critters dont even like to bite anything! They are most active at night, so you may see one crossing a road or a trail at night. A countersunken lower jaw allows the to burrow. Total length: 36 - 202 in (91 - 260 cm) They are completely harmless, and feed on termite larvae. The speckled rattlesnake, Crotalus pyrrhus, is light gray, and may even be white. Snakes in this genus are much smaller than those in the genus Crotalus, and this species reaches lengths of up to 36 inches. Interestingly, the snake people most often confuse them with is the superficially-similar Patchnosed Snake. All remaining vials expired in 2008. 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. 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. Although highly venomous, they should not be considered dangerous. While isolated populations continue to exist, numbers are in decline and eventual extirpation is likely. Snake Quiz - 52,551 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz, Watch A Hawk Turn From Predator to Prey In an Instant After Hunting A Snake. Take Our Brand New A-Z-Animals Snakes Quiz 4 Amazing Facts It can also be found in rocky canyons, riparian areas, and transitional grasslands adjacent to heavily forrested areas. Their small size and ability to hide in the sand make them tough to see. They're small, usually only around a foot long. It occurs in a variety of habitats but generally prefers open areas with sandy soils. It is one of three protected rattlesnake species in the state, due to limited range and collection by poachers. Being strong burrowers, the Glossy snake will choose areas with sandy soil where they can dig and take shelter from the heat of the day. Rusty Dodson/Shutterstock.com This is a non-venomous species of kingsnake native to Arizona, and other states like Texas and New Mexico. Their range may be exapanding in the state due to irrigation and agricultural activity. The sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, is a medium-large snake, and its the only rattlesnake with horns. Night snakes are very small. The Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) is Arizonas official state reptile! This is meant as a deterrant to predators, who may not want a mouthful of nasty goop. They look very similar to the Banded Sandsnakes, Groundsnakes and other species of Shovel-nosed Snake. They are heavy-bodied for their size, which can help differentiate them from the more commonly-seen Longnosed Snakes and variety of other small, ground-dwelling species. Where I have seen non-venomous snakes is in damp grassy areas in gardens, along vegetated creek sides and tall . As a defense, black-necked gartersnakes will bite, defecate, and emit a foul smelling musk. This snake is a strong burrower, complete with a countersunk lower jaw to prevent sand from getting in its mouth. Their diet consists almost entirely of lizards. The Mojave also has a generally more 'clean' appearance, with more distinct diamonds and less black speckling throughout the body. The Arizona coral snake has round pupils and a bullet-shaped head. A close look at the head, however reveals two dark spots the vestigial remnants of eyes. 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. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Always scan the area in front of you and to both sides so that you will see snakes before you are so close to them that you startle them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. They have a loosely banded pattern that is highly flecked to resemble granite within their habitat, and are usually small, with adults being typically around 2 in length. This should give you a quick overview if you are dealing with a venomous snake or not. The desert kingsnake is a large black snake with yellow crossbands or spreckles. A post shared by JK Mobray (@where_paved_roads_end). 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. Its the only snake that has its particular configuration of banding. 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