Salvadora hexalepis
Species of snake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salvadora hexalepis, the western patch-nosed snake, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake, which is endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.[5]
| Western patch-nosed snake | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Salvadora |
| Species: | S. hexalepis |
| Binomial name | |
| Salvadora hexalepis (Cope, 1866) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
Geographic range
It is found in the southwestern United States in the states of Arizona, southern California, Nevada, southern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas. It is also found in northern Mexico in the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora.[2]
Subspecies
The following four subspecies are recognized, along with their geographic ranges:[2]
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Geographic Range |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Patchnose Snake | Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis (Cope, 1866) | Southwest Arizona, southeast California, northeast Baja California, northwest Chihuahua. |
| Baja California Patchnose Snake | Salvadora hexalepis klauberi Bogert, 1945 | Southern Baja California, and the entirety of Baja California Sur. |
| Mojave Patchnose Snake | Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis Bogert, 1945 | Southeast California, northwest Arizona, western Nevada, and a tiny section of southwest Utah. |
| Coast Patchnose Snake | Salvadora hexalepis virgultea Bogert, 1935 | Southern California and northwest Baja California. |
Description
Adults of Salvadora hexalepis are, on average, 20-46 inches (51–117 cm) in total length;[6] the record total length is 58 in (150 cm).[7]
They have a distinctive, thick scale curved back over the top of the snout, and free at the edges.[7]
All subspecies are yellowish with blackish lateral stripes in various arrangements.[8]
The dorsal scales are smooth, and the anal plate is divided.[7]
Behavior
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Reproduction
4-10 eggs are laid during spring or early summer and hatch in August through September.[6]
