Range
The Tamaulipan Hooknose snake is endemic to the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Potosi, Puebla and San Luis. Its range also extends north into the US state of Texas.
Habitats
The non-venomous Tamaulipan Hooknose snake lives on the floodplains of the Rio Grande, on the boundary of agricultural fields, and can be found on irrigated lawns. They are nocturnal and burrow in a loose soil substrate and plant debris. They feed on spiders, centipedes and other small invertebrates. They are oviparous. When threatened, they make a popping sound with their cloaca.
Identification
They grow up to 5 to 11 inches. They are usually gray or brown with about 60 dark blotches arranged horizontally on the dorsum to look like stripes. They have white or pale-colored undersides. A key distinguishing feature of the Hooknose snake is its upturned snout from which its name is derived and distinctive arrangements of head shields. They have arranged in 17 rows smooth dorsal scales at mid-body. They do not have internasals.
Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians