A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

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California Desert Snakes

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Distribution of California Deserts Covered Here

To make them easier to identify, California's desert snakes have been divided into categories based of their overall appearance - banded, striped, patternless, patterned, and rattlesnakes. The main activity period of each snake is also listed - nocturnal, diurnal, or crepuscular. Some species are nocturnal in the heat of summer and diurnal in the winter and many can also be crepuscular, but for the most part these designations can be helpful in identifying a snake.

Banded Snakes Snakes with well-defined bands (or rings) around the back and sides of the body (not just the tail or the neck.)

Colorado Desert Shovel-nosed Snake Chionactis annulata annulata (nocturnal)		Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake Chionactis occipitalis (nocturnal)

California Kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae (diurnal & nocturnal)	Long-nosed Snake Rhinocheilus lecontei (nocturnal)		Variable Groundsnake Sonora semiannulata semiannulata (nocturnal)
Striped Snakes Snakes with stripes on the body from head to tail.

Rosy Boa Lichanura orcutti (nocturnal & crepuscular)	Desert Striped Whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus (diurnal)	Desert Patch-nosed Snake Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis (diurnal)	Mohave Patch-nosed Snake Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis (diurnal)

Two-striped Gartersnake Thamnophis hammondii (diurnal)		Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake Thamnophis marcianus marcianus (nocturnal)	Variable Groundsnake Sonora semiannulata semiannulata (nocturnal)
Patternless Snakes Snakes without any large markings on the backs and sides (though there may be markings on the head, neck, and undersides.)

Regal Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus regalis (nocturnal)	Western Black-headed Snake Tantilla planiceps (nocturnal)		Smith's Black-headed Snake Tantilla hobartsmithi (nocturnal)

Desert Threadsnake Rena humilis cahuilae (nocturnal)	Southwestern Threadsnake Rena humilis humilis (nocturnal)	Brahminy Blindsnake Indotyphlops braminus (nocturnal)

Baja California Ratsnake Bogertophis rosaliae (nocturnal & crepuscular)
Patterned Snakes Snakes with a markings on the back and sides that are not bands or stripes. Sometimes the markings might look like they circle the body like bands, but they are not as well-defined as the bands on banded snakes.

Desert Glossy Snake Arizona elegans eburnata (nocturnal)	Mohave Glossy Snake Arizona elegans candida (nocturnal)	Red Coachwhip (Red Racer) Masticophis flagellum piceus (diurnal)

Desert Nightsnake Hypsiglena chlorophaea deserticola (nocturnal)	Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake Phyllorhynchus decurtatus (nocturnal)	Sonoran Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer affinis (nocturnal & diurnal)	Great Basin Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer deserticola (nocturnal & diurnal)

Sonoran Lyresnake Trimorphodon lambda (nocturnal)	California Lyresnake Trimorphodon lyrophanes (nocturnal)		Southern Watersnake Nerodia fasciata (diurnal)
Rattlesnakes Patterned Snakes with markings on the back and sides and a rattle on the end of the tail.

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox (nocturnal & diurnal)	Mohave Desert Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes cerastes (nocturnal & diurnal)	Colorado Desert Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes laterorepens (nocturnal & diurnal)	Southern Pacific Rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus helleri (nocturnal & diurnal)

Great Basin Rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus lutosus (nocturnal & diurnal)	Red Diamond Rattlesnake Crotalus ruber (nocturnal & diurnal)	Northern Mohave Rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus (nocturnal & diurnal)

Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake Crotalus pyrrhus (nocturnal & diurnal)		Panamint Rattlesnake Crotalus stephensi (nocturnal & diurnal)

Banded Snakes

Colorado Desert Shovel-nosed Snake
Chionactis annulata annulata

Not Dangerous to Humans

Dark Blue: Range of Colorado Desert Shovel-nosed Snake

Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake
Chionactis occipitalis

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake

California Kingsnake
Lampropeltis californiae

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of California Kingsnake

Videos

Adults are typically 3 to 4 ft. long.

A large, thick bodied, slow-moving snake with a head slightly wider than the neck and smooth scales.

Black or brown with light bands circling the body. Striped and banded/striped forms also occur. This snake is highly variable in appearance, especially near the coast. The underside is light in color. The dark bands continue around onto the underside.

Diurnal and Nocturnal.

Common.

Found in a wide range of habitats:
forest, woodland, chaparral, grassland, wetlands, agricultural land, deserts, brushy suburban areas, from sea level to mountains.

Eats small mammals, lizards, snakes (including rattlesnakes) eggs, frogs, birds, and large invertebrates.

Females lay eggs May to August.

Long-nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei

Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Red: Range of Long-nosed Snake

Adults are typically 16 to 30 inches long. Hatchlings are 7 to 11 inches long.

A slender snake with smooth scales, only a faint neck and a head with a long pointed snout.

Color is white with red and black saddles that do not entirely circle the body. Some snakes lack red coloring.

Nocturnal and crepuscular but occasionally seen active in daylight.

Uncommon in our area. More common in the deserts.

Found in semi-arid grasslands, shrublands, and prairies.

Eats mostly lizards and their eggs plus small snakes, small mammals, birds, and insects.

Females lay eggs from June to August.

Variable Groundsnake
Sonora semiannulata semiannulata

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Variable Groundsnake

Striped Snakes

Rosy Boa
Lichanura orcutti

Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Red: Range of Rosy Boa

Adults are typically 2 to 3 feet long. Hatchlings are 10 - 14 inches long.

A slow-moving heavy-bodied snake with small shiny scales and a blunt tail. The head is barely wider than the neck.

Color is grayish or brownish with irregular dark brown, reddish, or orange lengthwise stripes. Some snakes in southern San Diego County lack the stripes and are a nearly solid rusty or purplish color.

Mostly nocturnal and crepuscular.

Common, but secretive.

Found in arid and semi-arid scrublands, rocky shrublands, and other rocky areas, especially where near water.

Eats small rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, and amphibians.

Young are born live from October to November.

Desert Striped Whipsnake
Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Desert Striped Whipsnake

Desert Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis

Not Dangerous to Humans

Video

Red: Range of Desert Patch-nosed Snake

Adults are typically 2 - 3 feet long.

A slender, fast-moving snake with large eyes and smooth scales.

Gray or brown with a broad pale stripe down the middle of the back and a pale underside. No stripes on the sides.

Diurnal.

Conspicuous, but uncommon.

Found in semi-arid brushy areas and chaparral.

Eats mostly lizards plus small mammals, birds and amphibians.

Lays eggs probably May to August which hatch in late summer and fall.

Mohave Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis

Not Dangerous to Humans

Video

Purple: Range of Mohave Patch-nosed Snake

Diurnal.

Conspicuous, but uncommon.

Found in semi-arid brushy areas and chaparral.

Eats mostly lizards plus small mammals, birds and amphibians.

Lays eggs probably May to August which hatch in late summer and fall.

Two-striped Gartersnake
Thamnophis hammondii

Not Dangerous to Humans

Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake
Thamnophis marcianus marcianus

Not Dangerous to Humans

Patternless Snakes

Regal Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus regalis

Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Black: Range of Regal Ring-necked Snake

Adults grow up to 34 inches long.

A small thin snake with smooth scales.

Color is gray, dark olive, or black with a narrow orange band around the neck. The underside is bright yellow or orange or peckled with black markings. This underside is often displayed in a coil when a snake is feeling threatened.

Diurnal and nocturnal.

Common but secretive and rarely seen crawling.

Found in moist habitats including wet meadows, rocky hillsides, gardens, farmlands, grassland, chaparral, mixed coniferous forest and woodlands.

Eats small salamanders, tadpoles, frogs, snakes, lizards, worms, slugs, and insects.

Females lay eggs in the summer which hatch mostly in the fall.

Found in the souther part of our area, mostly in San Diego County.

Western Black-headed Snake
Tantilla planiceps

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Western Black-headed Snake

This species barely enters the deserts at the eastern edge of the Peninsular Mountain Range in San Diego and Imperial Counties and in the northern Coachella Valley.

Smith's Black-headed Snake
Tantilla hobartsmithi

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Smith's Black-headed Snake

Desert Threadsnake
Rena humilis cahuilae

Not Dangerous to Humans

Video

Orange: Range of Desert Threadsnake

Adults are 7 to 16 inches long. Young are 4 to 5 inches long.

A very thin small snake with a blunt head and blunt tail and nonfunctional eyes that are just dark spots. Resembles a large worm.

Coloring is brown, purple, or pink.

Nocturnal.

Common but secretive and rarely seen.

Found in areas with soil that is suitable for burrowing, including brushy slopes, rocky hillsides, washes, and beach sand.

Eats ants and termites and their larvae and pupae.

Females lay eggs in Summer.

Southwestern Threadsnake
Rena humilis humilis

Not Dangerous to Humans

Video

Red: Range of Southwestern Threadsnake

Nocturnal.

Common but secretive and rarely seen.

Found in areas with soil that is suitable for burrowing, including brushy slopes, rocky hillsides, washes, and beach sand.

Eats ants and termites and their larvae and pupae.

Females lay eggs in Summer.

Brahminy Blindsnake
Indotyphlops braminus

Not Native to California

Not Dangerous to Humans

Video

Brahminy Blindsnake California Range Map

Red: Current likely range,
including Sonoran Desert populations in the Coachella Valley

Adults are typically 2.5 to 7 inches long.

Very similar to the native Southwestern Threadsnake but typically darker in color.

A very thin small snake with a blunt head and blunt tail and nonfunctional eyes that are just dark spots. Resembles a large worm.

Nocturnal.

Common but secretive and rarely seen. Usually seen hiding under surface objects such as rocks and boards.

Found in areas with soil that is suitable for burrowing, including brushy slopes, rocky hillsides, washes, and beach sand.

Has spread around the world, most likely through snakes or eggs that are hiding or deposited in the pots and soil of imported commercial plants.

Lays eggs, but all snakes are females and do not need to find a male in order to breed.

Not a native snake. Documented in Chula Vista with other southern California locations probable.

Baja California Ratsnake
Bogertophis rosaliae

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Baja Caiifornia Ratsnake

Adult, © William Flaxington

Adult, © Dick Bartlett

Juvenile, © Dick Bartlett

Adult, © Jason Jones

Adult, © Patrick Briggs

Patterned Snakes

Desert Glossy Snake
Arizona elegans eburnata

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Desert Glossy Snake

Adults are typically 3 to 4 feet long.

A thick slow-moving snake with smooth glossy scales.

Tan or light brown with dark blotches and a pale underside.

Nocturnal.

Uncommon in our area.

Found in open areas including arid scrub, grasslands, chaparral, and rocky washes.

Eats mostly lizards, plus small snakes, birds, and mammals.

Females lay eggs in June and July which hatch in late summer, early fall.

Mohave Glossy Snake
Arizona elegans candida

Not Dangerous to Humans

Purple: Range of Mohave Glossy Snake

Red Coachwhip (or Red Racer)
Masticophis flagellum piceus

Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Red: Range of Red Racer

Adults are 3 to 8 feet in length.

A long slender, fast-moving snake with a large head and eyes and large rough scales.

Variable in appearance: brown, tan, or reddish, with black on the head, the neck, and the front part of the body, and light color giving it a banded pattern.

Diurnal.

Common and conspicuous.

Found in open areas of grassland, chaparral, scrubland where vegetation is not dense.

Eats small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, and amphibians.

Females lay eggs in early summer. Eggs hatch in late summer and fall.

Northern Desert Nightsnake
Hypsiglena chlorophaea deserticola

Not Dangerous to Humans

Video
of similar subspecies

Red: Range of Northern Desert Nightsnake

Most adults are about a foot long, rarely over 16 inches. Hatchlings are abpit 7 inches long.

A small slender snake with a narrow head and smooth scales.

Light gray, light brown, beige, tan, or cream in color with dark brown or gray blotches on the backs and sides and a dark band on the neck and another through the eyes.

Nocturnal.

Secretive and not often seen.

Found in a variety of habitats, including chaparral, suburban lots and gardens, meadows and grassland, from sea level into the mountains.

Eats mostly lizards and their eggs, plus small snakes, amphibians, and other small vertebrates.

Females lay eggs from April to September.

Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake
Phyllorhynchus decurtatus

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red: Range of Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake

Sonoran Gophersnake
Pituophis catenifer affinis

Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Purple: Range of Sonoran Gophersnake

Adults are typically 4 to 5 ft. long.
Hatchlings are around 15 inches long.

A large, thick bodied, slow-moving snake with a head slightly wider than the neck and large rough scales.

Brown or tan with dark markings on the back and often reddish coloring.

Diurnal. Nocturnal on hot nights.

Found in many habitats - grassland, chaparral, agricultural, riparian, woodlands, desert, from sea level to the mountains.

Eats mostly small mammals, birds, eggs.

Females lay eggs June to August. Young hatch August to October.

Often confused with rattlesnakes, but the tail is long and thin with no rattle.
See here.

Great Basin Gophersnake
Pituophis catenifer deserticola

Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Dark Blue and Gray: Range of Great Basin Gophersnake

Diurnal. Nocturnal on hot nights.

Found in many habitats - grassland, chaparral, agricultural, riparian, woodlands, desert, from sea level to the mountains.

Eats mostly small mammals, birds, eggs.

Females lay eggs June to August. Young hatch August to October.

Often confused with rattlesnakes, but the tail is long and thin with no rattle.
See here.

Sonoran Lyresnake
Trimorphodon lambda

Mildly Venomous But Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Orange: Range of Sonoran Lyresnake

Adults are typically 2 to 3 feet long.

A slender snake with a large broad head and a slim neck, and large eyes.

Color is typically gray or light brown, with dark blotches that have a light crossbar in their middle.

Nocturnal.

Common, but secretive.

Typically found in rocky locations in scrub, grassland, chaparral, oak woodland.

Eats mostly lizards, plus small mammals, nestling birds, and snakes.

California Lyresnake
Trimorphodon lyrophanes

Mildly Venomous But Not Dangerous to Humans

Videos

Red: Range of California Lyresnake

Nocturnal.

Common, but secretive.

Typically found in rocky locations in scrub, grassland, chaparral, oak woodland.

Eats mostly lizards, plus small mammals, nestling birds, and snakes.

Southern Watersnake
Nerodia fasciata

Not Native to California

It is unlawful to import, transport, or possess any Watersnakes of the genus Nerodia in
California except under permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Excerpts, Section 671)

The California Watersnakes Site reports on news, publications, and
sightings related to non-native watersnake species (Nerodia) in California.

If you see a watersnake in the wild in California at a location not mentioned on the
California Watersnakes Site, please report it to California Nerodia Watch at iNaturalist.

(Don't confuse Watersnakes (Nerodia) with native California gartersnakes. Most gartersnakes
have stripes on the sides and sometimes on the back. Watersnakes have no stripes.)

Not Dangerous to Humans

Red Dots: Locations where Southern Watersnakes
have been found so far in California

Adults are typically 22 to 40 inches long.

A heavy-bodied snake with large keeled scales.

Color is yellowish to reddish-gray with many dark crossbands. Juveniles are paler with a stronger pattern. Very old snakes may be almost entirely dark.

Diurnal and Nocturnal.

Uncommon.

Found in and around permanent bodies of water, especially those bordered by woods.

Eats fish, frogs, salamanders, and crayfish.

Young are born live.

So far, known to be established in one desert location at the Colorado River in Imperial County.

Rattlesnakes

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Red: Range of Western Diaond-backed Rattlesnake

Mohave Desert Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes cerastes

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Red: Range of Mohave Desert Sidewinder

Colorado Desert Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes laterorepens

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Orange: Range of Colorado Desert Sidewinder

Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus helleri

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Dark Blue: Range of Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

Videos

Adults are typically 3 to 4 feet long.

A heavy-bodied snake with a large triangular head and thin neck, and large keeled scales, and a tail tipped with a rattle that is shaken to produce a loud sound when the snake is feeling threatened. Young snakes have no rattle and cannot make a sound.

Color is brown, olive, or black, with dark brown blotches outlined by light pigment on the back, and dark bars on the tail.

Nocturnal and crepuscular in hot temperatures, and also diurnal during moderate temperatures.

Common and conspicuous.

Found in many habitats, including seaside dunes, scrub, grasslands, rocky hillsides, chaparral, open woodlands, and agricultural fields.

Eats small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, and frogs.

Young are born live from August to October.

Great Basin Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus lutosus

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Orange: Range of Great Basin Rattlesnake

Videos

Eats small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, and frogs.

Young are born live from August to October.

Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Crotalus ruber

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Videos

Red: Range of Red Diamond Rattlesnake

Adults are typically 2 to 4.5 feet long. Young are about 12 inches long.

A heavy-bodied snake with a large triangular head and thin neck, and large keeled scales, and a tail tipped with a rattle that is shaken to produce a loud sound when the snake is feeling threatened. Young snakes have no rattle and cannot make a sound.

Color is brown, tan or reddish, with dark diamond-shaped blotches on the back. The tail is circled with black and white rings.

Nocturnal and crepuscular, but diurnal in shaded areas and when the temperature is moderate.

Common and conspicuous.

Found in arid scrub, chaparral, oak and pine woodlands, rocky grassland, and cultivated areas.

Eats small mammals, lizards, and birds.

Young are born live from July to September.

Northern Mohave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Red: Range of Northern Mohave Rattlesnake

Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Crotalus pyrrhus

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Videos

Red: Range of Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake

Adults are typically 2 - 4 feet long. Young are 9 or 10 inches long.

A heavy-bodied snake with a large triangular head and thin neck, and large keeled scales, and a tail tipped with a rattle that is shaken to produce a loud sound when the snake is feeling threatened. Young snakes have no rattle and cannot make a sound.

Color varies widely to match the environment, from off-white, yellow, gray, tan, pink, orangish, to brown. A vague pattern of dark speckled banded markings cover the body. The tail is circled with dark and light rings.

Nocturnal and crepuscular during hot periods and diurnal during moderate temperatures.

Fairly common in the right habitat.

Typically found in dry rocky areas vegetated with sagebrush, thronscrub, chaparral, and pinon-juniper woodland up to about 8,000 ft. in the mountains.

Eats small mammals, lizards, and birds.

Young are born live in July and August.

Panamint Rattlesnake
Crotalus stephensi

Venomous and Potentially Very Dangerous

Videos

Orange: Range of Panamint Rattlesnake

Eats small mammals, lizards, and birds.

Young are born live in July and August.

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