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Desert Night Snake
VENOMOUS
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- Order: Squamata (scaled reptiles)
- Suborder: Serpentes (=Ophidia) (snakes)
- Family: Colubridae (typical snakes)
- Genus: Hypsiglena (night snakes)
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Scientific Name: Hypsiglena
torquata deserticola Tanner, 1946 |
| Habitat: Rocky or
sandy areas with scattered bushes. |
Hyspi="on high," glenes="eyeball,"
torquata="wearing a necklace," deserticola="of
the dry place"
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| Length: To two feet total. |
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| Food: Lizards,
amphibians, and insects. |
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| I found this snake crossing a
road leading to Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada. Contrary to
what I've read, it didn't put on a big threat display. It
just tried to slither away. When it left the road, it used
an almost sidewinder-like movement to make its escape. |
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| I annotated "venomous"
on this snake because technically it IS venomous. However,
its fangs are in the rear of its mouth, and the venom isn't
considered fatal for humans. You can see my hand in this
photograph for size comparison, but notice I am not touching the
snake--it is illegal to do so within the confines of the park! |
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