Arizona elegans arenicola

Arizona elegans arenicola, commonly known as the Texas glossy snake, is a subspecies of glossy snake, a nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to North America.

Arizona elegans arenicola
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Arizona
Species:
A. elegans
Subspecies:
A. e. arenicola
Trinomial name
Arizona elegans arenicola
Dixon, 1960

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 20 to 35 inches (51 to 89 centimetres) in length. They have a thin body, smooth scales, and eyes with round pupils.

A. e. arenicola has 50 or fewer dorsal blotches. Females have 221 or more ventrals, and males have 212 or more ventrals. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 29 or 31 rows at midbody.[1]

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 lizards, and small rodents.

Behavior

They are nocturnal, 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 9–11 inches (23–28 centimetres) in total length.

References
  1. Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Arizona elegans arenicola, p. 182.)
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