''Arizona elegans arenicola'', commonly known as the Texas glossy snake, is a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of nonvenomous
colubrid snake endemic to North America.
Geographic range
It is found in the
Chihuahuan Desert region of the southwestern
United States and northern
Mexico. Its range overlaps that of other glossy snake subspecies, and
interbreeding is likely. Thus, distinguishing subspecies which share range is often difficult.
Description
The Texas glossy snake is typically a tan brown in color, with darker brown blotches down the length of the back. Each blotch is usually edged with black. Its underside is usually solid cream or white in color. Their coloration can vary, lighter or darker, depending on the soil and elevation of their localized habitat. They can grow from in length. They have a thin body, smooth scales, and
eye
Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and conv ...
s with round
pupils.
''A. e. arenicola'' has 50 or fewer
dorsal blotches. Females have 221 or more
ventrals
In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down the underside of the body from the neck to the anal scale. When counting them, the first is the anteriormost ventral scale that cont ...
, and males have 212 or more ventrals. The smooth
dorsal scales are arranged in 29 or 31 rows at midbody.
[ Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. ''Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification''. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. (paperback). (''Arizona elegans arenicola'', p. 182.)]
Habitat
Their preferred
habitat is sandy and rocky semiarid regions, and it is often found in areas lightly vegetated with
creosote and
sagebrush.
Diet
Their
diet consists of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
s, and small
rodents.
Behavior
They are
nocturnal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...
, and can often be found foraging in roadside ditches in the late evening.
Reproduction
Mating occurs in the spring, and the female lays a clutch of up to 24
eggs which hatch in the fall. Hatchlings are in total length.
References
External links
*
Herps of Texas: ''Arizona elegans''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4791482
Arizona (snake)
Reptiles of Mexico
Reptiles of the United States
Fauna of the Chihuahuan Desert
Fauna of the Southwestern United States
Reptiles described in 1960
Taxa named by James R. Dixon