California Lyresnake
Trimorphodon lyrophanes
A slender, rock-dwelling nocturnal snake with cat-like vertical pupils and a lyre-shaped head marking.
- Venomous?
- Mildly venomous
- Adult length
- 50-100 cm (20-40 in)
- Range
- Southern California, Baja California, and adjacent desert regions
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Overview
The California Lyresnake is a slender, nocturnal colubrid found in rocky habitats of southern California and Baja California. Like other lyresnakes, it bears a lyre-shaped marking atop its head and possesses mildly venomous rear fangs.
It is closely associated with rock outcrops and boulder fields, where it hunts at night from crevices and beneath exfoliating rock slabs.
How to identify it
- Slender body, pale gray to tan with darker brown or gray saddle-like blotches
- Distinctive lyre- or V-shaped dark marking on the head
- Vertically elliptical pupils, unusual among colubrids and indicative of nocturnal habits
- Large head relative to a slender neck; smooth scales
- Distinguished from gophersnakes and kingsnakes by elliptical pupils and head marking
Habitat & range
Inhabits rocky canyons, boulder-strewn hillsides, and desert foothills, often in chaparral or desert scrub transition zones.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal, sheltering by day in rock crevices and emerging at night to hunt lizards, small mammals, and birds. Uses mildly venomous rear fangs to help subdue prey. Lays eggs in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the California Lyresnake dangerous to people?
No, its venom is mild and adapted for subduing small prey, and it poses no real danger to humans.
Why are its pupils vertical?
Vertical pupils are an adaptation for nocturnal vision, common among nighttime-hunting snakes.
Where does it typically shelter?
It hides in rock crevices and beneath exfoliating rock slabs during the day, emerging to hunt at night.
What does it eat?
It preys on lizards, small mammals, and occasionally birds and their eggs.
California Lyresnake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding California Lyresnake.
