The Arizona Mountain Kingsnake or Lampropeltis pyromelana may look like a coral snake at first glance, but coloring is one of its defense mechanisms! And Can They See in the Dark? Adults are around 3 feet long. In Arizona, these snakes are usually black. When in danger, it will coil up and lift its backend, then unleash a foul odor! Diet: Birds, small mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, Variable Sandsnake In that time I've seen about 4 snakes, none while hiking. Compared to the Checkered and Black-necked Gartersnakes, these snakes are relatively drab in appearance. Species like the speckled rattlesnake arent red and are quite long. These species include: According to iNaturalist, the following ten species are the most commonly sighted snakes in Arizona: Arizona has more venomous snakes than most other states. They are protected by state law and should always be left alone. Night Snake Hypsiglena torquata Non-Venomous This small snake can be found on roads at night and is identified by the dark blotches on the neck and a single row of dorsal blotches. While they have been observed consuming rodents and amphibians, scientists note that this is rare because they prefer to eat lizards. It is small, usually tan, grey, or brown, and may superficially resemble a Prairie Rattlesnake to an untrained eye. Coachwhips can help reduce rattlesnakes in an area because they are rattlesnake-eaters. This further narrows down the list. Since water sources in Arizona can be hard to find you will often find black-necked snakes gathered near ponds, streams, or lakes. They are often mistaken for rattlesnakes because of their superficial likeness, and tendency to quickly become defensive when approached. Both venomous and non-venomous. They can be difficult to identify by using photographs, since they are highly variable in appearance. As adults, they are less than a foot long. Arizona is home to 19 different species of venomous snakes, with most of these species being rattlesnakes. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake is the most commonly encountered snake in the Phoenix area, and can be found anywhere where neighborhoods get close to native desert habitat. They are primarily snake eaters, but also eat lizards and invertebrates. 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. Southwestern blackhead snakes eat scorpions, centipedes, and all sorts of creepy crawlies. Diet: Centipedes, millipedes, insects, Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake Their primary defense is to defecate and musk when picked up, as well as occasionally bleed from the cloaca. The banded rock rattlesnake usually has a grey base coloration, and a series of black bands, sometimes with a very bright teal or green outline. The lyresnake eats primarily lizards, and also preys on small rodents, bats, and birds. Total length: 20 - 46 in (51 - 117 cm) They are completely harmless, and feed on termite larvae. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake is a harmless constrictor that is not cause for alarm if seen. They have a highly toxic bite and should always be left alone when seen. The pattern can become nearly solid black in mature snakes, to a speckled/banded pattern in areas where it intergrades with the California Kingsnake. But, what snakes can we go out and see in real life? 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 color is variable, usually consisting 3 dark brown, red, or orange stripes running nose-to-tail against a lighter, cream or white base color. Total length: 5 - 15 in (13 - 38 cm) Total length: 22 - 47 in (56 - 119 cm) It is an eater of lizards, as well as small mammals, and birds. The night snake is a small, mostly nocturnal snake found in the Western United States and in Mexico. This snake has a pattern of irregular blotches along the back, often with a dark brown outline. . 230 helpful votes. Their venom can quickly kill its prey, but is not something that should be considered harmful to humans or pets. If you find one, please contact a reptile rescue organization or notify neighbors of the sighting in the event it's just an escaped pet. Snakes are a highly beneficial group of animals in most cases. The scale across the nose resembles a patch on the nose, therefore the common name. On occasion, brilliant teal or blue skin can be seen between the scales, often when the snake has just eaten and engorged. Most of the venomous snakes in Arizona are rattlesnakes. Slow-moving and non-aggressive, bites are easily avoided simply by not approaching or attacking one when encountered. Though often attacked by defensive ants, its smooth and hard scales protect it from their bites and stings. Lets take a look at one or two of them. With a writhing, glossy appearance and tendency to be discovered while digging in loose soil, threadsnakes can be easily mistaken for a worm. When they are scared, they coil into a tight ball and hide their head under the body. Total length: 24 - 67 in (61 - 170 cm) One of the 3 protected montane rattlesnakes from the Sky Islands region of Arizona, it can be found in talus rock slides, forests, and grasslands between 6,000 and 11,000 feet, and is therefore infrequently encountered by people who are not specicially trying to see one. Color, size, and pattern can vary greatly between communities, from small orange or reddish variants, or Hopi variety, to large-bodied, green, tan, or brown individuals. Simply take a picture of it and upload your picture, a quick description and the U.S. state where it was foundhere on our snake identification page. Longnosed Snakes are usually patterned with speckled black and white bands, with varying amounts of red or orange coloration. If there is a non-venomous snake in Arizona homes,chances are its the Dessert Night snake. The striped whipsnake is a nonvenomous snake found in the Western and Southern United States and in Northwestern Mexico. But when in doubt back up and walk away. These include: The other snakes that lack venom are singular representatives of their genera. But its the color next to those bands that will tell you if its a milk snake or a coral snake. Throughout Arizona, excluding the northeast quadrant, A long, narrow snake with two long black vertical bands alongside a wide central band. On this page, you can find an overview of snakes in Arizona. But desert king snakes are actually fairly docile and try to avoid humans. This small, harmless snake is one of the most rarely-seen species that lives along the highly-urbanized areas of Phoenix and Tucson. These snakes commonly reside in rocky canyons and foothills in a desert environment. Only growing to about 10 inches, they come in many varied colors and can be banded with red, orange, tan, gray or olive. Fortunately, these snakes are easy to identify since they have a pretty unique shape. As hatchlings, they may completely lack any red coloration whatsoever, making them look very similar to Kingsnakes. They are long and slender in comparison with, as the name suggests, a flat, slightly up-turned nose that is used to move through sand. They are the smallest species of the former Western Rattlesnake complex, reaching an adult size of under 2 feet. Florida Showdown: Who Emerges Victorious in a Burmese Python vs. Crocodile Battle? 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. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. They are generally small (3' or less) and have an unusually small head compared to other rattlesnake species. Their small size and ability to hide in the sand make them tough to see. They are often misidentifed as Mojave Green rattlesnakes in New Mexico and Northern Arizona. Preventing other small animal populations from growing to sizes that the environment cant support. Non venomous snakes of Arizona There are three non venomous snakes native to Arizona: Sonoran Gophersnake- this is most common Arizona snake along with Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Have some feedback for us? It gets its name from its resemblance to the whip used by stagecoach drivers. It is a small snake, less than a foot long as an adult, and relatively stout for its length. Thats why this desert snake is so at home in Arizona. They are large and aggressive and have a rattle at the end of their white and black striped tail. Feigning death is known as playing possum, and it isn't a snake-specific behavior. Sonoran CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum cingulum, Lined CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum lineatulus, Red CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum piceus. This small rattlesnake is found near foothills and mountainous areas, or in flats between them. So much, that it will often be seen hanging around golf courses, parks, and yards. This snake is found in Arizona only from a small area in the Organ Pipe National Monument, and encounters are exceptionally rare. While they are common in the sandy soil and grasslands where they live, they are relatively elusive. When threatened, the Gopher snake will coil its tail, shake,hiss, and then head butt any predator. When trying to identify a snake found in Arizona, there are a few things to bear in mind. Here are ten snakes that you might see in Arizona. Also, not all snakes use it. They are generally considered as beneficial snakes, regardless of fondness for snakes, since they regularly prey on rattlesnakes. The Mojave is very commonly seen in flat, sandy desertscrub areas, and less likely seen in mountainous or rocky regions. The state of Arizona has 27 spider species, three of them known for their venomous bite, being potentially dangerous to humans. Pet Keen is reader-supported. There are more than 3,000 venomous and non-venomous snakes across the globe. They typically are just about two feet long. The Crotalus viridis nuntius, also known as the Hopi Rattlesnake, is named for the Native American Hopi tribe that inhabits the northeastern part of Arizona, where these snakes are found. 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