#Sonoran milksnake how to

Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake – Phyllorhynchus browni.

Sonoran Whipsnake – Masticophis bilineatus.

Striped Whipsnake – Masticophis taeniatus.

Chihuahuan Mountain Kingsnake – Lampropeltis knoblochi.

Arizona Mountain Kingsnake – Lampropeltis pyromelana.

California King Snake – Lampropeltis californiae.

Western Milksnake – Lampropeltis gentilis.

Eastern Milksnake – Lampropeltis triangulum.

Desert Kingsnake – Lampropeltis splendida.

Chihuahuan Nightsnake – Hypsiglena jani.

Desert Nightsnake – Hypsiglena chlorophaea.

Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake – Gyalopion canum.

Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snake – Gyalopion quadrangulare.

Resplendent Desert Shovel-Nosed Snake – Chionactis annulata.

Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake – Chionactis palarostris.

Mohave Shovel-Nosed Snake – Chionactis occipitalis.

Most of the non-venomous snakes in Arizona fit comfortably into one of a few main groups. Sonoran Coralsnake – Micruroides euryxanthus.Sonoran Lyre Snake – Trimorphodon lambda.Western Massasauga – Sistrurus tergeminus.Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake – Crotalus atrox.Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake – Crotalus pyrrhus.Arizona Black Rattlesnake – Crotalus cerberus.Twin-spotted Rattlesnake – Crotalus pricei.Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake – Crotalus willardi.Western Rattlesnake – Crotalus oreganus.Mojave Rattlesnake – Crotalus scutulatus.Of these, around 16 are dangerous to humans, including: What Kind of Snakes Are in Arizona?Īrizona has approximately 60 species of snake. These snakes also sport a v-shaped marking on their heads, which supposedly resembles a lyre. They have broad heads and narrow necks which make them quite distinctive. Unlike vine snakes, lyre snakes are terrestrial. Vine snakes have a distinctive head shape. Their surface color is dark brown, and the rest of the body (from just below the eye) is white or tan). Their heads also have a unique shape that resembles the knobbly part of a branch. Vine snakes have round pupils and distinctive two-tone coloration. Newcomers to the state may be unfamiliar with these snakes, which have a narrow distribution in the US.įortunately, these snakes are easy to identify since they have a pretty unique shape. Most other species’ bands break off on their sides somewhere. In most other species, there’s a black band between the red and the yellow bands.Ĭoral snakes also have complete bands running to their undersides. If the red bands lie next to the yellow ones, it’s probably a coral snake. People that live in areas where coral snakes occur have created a rhyme for it. It’s the only snake that has its particular configuration of banding. However, if you take a good look, it’s fairly easy to distinguish the coral snake from similar species. A drawn comparison between the Scarlet Kingsnake and Eastern Coral Snake. If you’re afraid of coral snakes, it’s easy to confuse species like the ring-necked snake, Western ground snake, or milksnake for it at first glance. Large heat pits located between the eyes and nostrils.A large “rattle” at the end of the tail.These identifying characteristics set these snakes apart from other snake species: Pit vipers like the Great Basin rattlesnake and Prairie rattlesnake have elliptical (slit-shaped) eyes. Fortunately, these snakes have a set of characteristics that make them easy to spot. Most of the venomous snakes in Arizona are rattlesnakes.

#Sonoran milksnake how to

Let’s take a closer look at how to spot venomous snakes. From the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake to the coral snake. Identifying Venomous SpeciesĪrizona has quite a lot of venomous species compared to some of the other states. However, if you consider all the characteristics, you’ll soon identify the species. Arizona rattlesnakes have slit-shaped pupils and broad heads.Īlone, none of the identifying characteristics can give you an answer. The Arizona coral snake has round pupils and a bullet-shaped head. If you take a closer look at the head and pupil shape, it will give you further clues. Species like the speckled rattlesnake aren’t red and are quite long. Let’s say that the snake you find is bright red and short. The habitat you find them in can help identify them.

Most species also have habitat preferences. If you’re trying to identify snakes in Phoenix, then you won’t start with a list of northern Arizona snakes. Snakes have specific distribution ranges, and where you find the snake can lead to successful identification. The most essential characteristics include:

When trying to identify a snake found in Arizona, there are a few things to bear in mind.

Related Articles to Arizona Snakes Identification Guide.

Identifying Vine Snakes and Lyre Snakes.