SNAKES

Camouflage in the Pigmy Adder (Namib Desert)

Hiding in the desert….

Colubridae

• Share no unique derived characters.

• Very diverse in every way.

• 70% of all snakes are grouped in this family.

• Includes most snakes in our area.

• Some snakes are venomous (African).

Lampropeltis getulaEastern Kingsnake

Other Kingsnakes

Scarlet Kingsnake

Utah Mountain Kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligasterMole Kingsnake

Adults are tannish to orange, with black-bordered reddish-brown blotches. There are smaller reddish-brown blotches on the sides between the larger mid-dorsal blotches. The belly is checkered. There is a light colored Y-shaped pattern on the back of the head. There is a dark line through the eye. Scales are smooth.

Elaphe guttataCorn Snake

Boldly checkeredwith black andwhite. Dark markon top of headresembling spearpoint.

Elaphe obsoletaRat Snake

Venter mottledwith gray andwhite. Anteriorportion of venteris lighter than posterior portion.

Juvenile Black Rat Snake

Heterodon platyrhinosEastern Hognose Snake

Coluber constrictorBlack Racer

                                                                                                                   

Adult Juvenile

Have uniformly black dorsum and predominately black or dark grayventer. Smooth scales.

Carphophis amoenusWorm Snake

Small snake 7.5 – 12 inches. Resemble large worms. Small pointed head, plain chestnut to dark brown dorsum, and pinkish venter. Tail tip bears a sharp spine. Scales are smooth and glossy. Earthworms majorpart of diet.

Diadophis punctatusRingneck Snake

Small snake 10 – 20 inches. Yellow or orange venter.

Storeria dekayiBrown Snake

Small snake 9 – 18 inches. Dosum is brown, gray or reddish usually with a pale median stripe. On each side of stripe is a row of small black or brown spots. Venter is light with tiny black spots along each side. Diet primarily slugs, earthworms.

Storeria occipitomaculataRedbelly Snake

Small snake 6.5 – 12 inches. Keeled scales with 3 orange or yellownape spots, sometimes fused. Frequently there is a light middorsal band bordered on each side by a black line. Most of undersurface is red or orange.

Nerodia sipedonNorthern Water Snake

Extremely variable species. Dark crossbands on neck and anterior partsof body and dark dorsal blotches and alternating lateral bars on remainderof bodyl

Northern Water Snake

Handfeeding minnows to a water snake….

Northern Water Snake

Nerodia taxispilotaBrown Water Snake