Glossy Snake
Arizona elegans
A pale, sleek desert snake resembling a gophersnake but with smoother scales and a distinctly glossy sheen.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.75-1.4 m (2.5-4.6 ft)
- Range
- Western and central United States and northern Mexico
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Overview
The Glossy Snake is a nocturnal, desert-adapted colubrid found across a broad range of arid and semi-arid habitats in the western and central United States and northern Mexico. It closely resembles the gophersnake but is generally paler and smoother-scaled.
It is well adapted to burrowing in loose sandy soils, using a countersunk lower jaw and a smooth, glossy body to move efficiently underground.
How to identify it
- Pale tan, gray, or straw-colored body with darker brown blotches down the back
- Smooth, glossy scales giving a shiny appearance, unlike the keeled scales of the gophersnake
- Small head, not much wider than the neck; round pupils
- Blotches are usually less contrasting and more faded than in gophersnakes
- Distinguished from gophersnakes by smooth scales and paler, less bold pattern
Habitat & range
Found in desert scrub, sandy flats, grasslands, and semi-arid shrublands, favoring loose or sandy soils suitable for burrowing.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Strictly nocturnal, spending days buried in loose soil. Feeds mainly on lizards and small mammals, subduing prey by constriction. Lays eggs in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Glossy Snake venomous?
No, it is a non-venomous constrictor and harmless to people.
How is it different from a gophersnake?
It has smooth, glossy scales and a paler, more faded pattern compared to the keeled scales and bolder blotches of the gophersnake.
Is it nocturnal?
Yes, it is almost exclusively active at night, unlike many other diurnal colubrids in its range.
What does it eat?
It preys mainly on lizards and small mammals, constricting them before swallowing.
Glossy Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Glossy Snake.
