Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake
Gyalopion canum
Small, light brown snake with a pattern of jagged medium-brown horizontal bars down entire body. A straight horizontal stripe (mask) is located centrally across the face…
How to identify
Small, light brown snake with a pattern of jagged medium-brown horizontal bars down entire body. A straight horizontal stripe (mask) is located centrally across the face directly between the eyes, and extends down to the jaw line below each eye. Gets its name from a short snout with a slightly upturned rostrum. It grows to just under 15 inches in length. Ventral surface is solid cream or white with a pinkish tint.
Range
Southeastern Arizona through southern and central New Mexico into west-central Texas. Range also extends south into central Mexico.
Habitat
Prefers rocky or sandy areas in desert or scrubland habitats. Likes to burrow under rocks. Can also be found in semidesert grasslands or low elevations of mountain terrain.
Variations
Color ranges from light tan with sparse brown pattern, to medium brown with dark brown ample patterning. May also be shades of grey, rather than brown. Dark pattern can be outlined with black scales.
Similar species
Could be confused with the western (plains) hognose snake (*Heterodon nasicus*) which has an overlapping range but displays a more spotted brown pattern and a more drastically upturned snout. Somewhat similar colors and pattern to the much larger gopher snake (*Pituophis catenifer*), which also has a very different shape to its head and lacks the upturned snout.
Name and etymology
Canum: Latin for grey.
At a glance
Range
Southeastern Arizona through southern and central New Mexico into west-central Texas. Range also extends south into central M…
Habitat
Prefers rocky or sandy areas in desert or scrubland habitats. Likes to burrow under rocks. Can also be found in semidesert gr…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap