ECCB 315 Snakes 2

Common Name: Ring-necked Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Dipsadinae

Genus and Species: Diadophis punctatus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: family has opisthoglyph dentition, 2-3 preocular scales, nasal plate divided, light colored ring around neck, line of spots on venter

Species Identification: ring around neck

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Eastern Mud Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Dipsadinae

Genus and Species: Farancia abacura

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: family has opisthoglyph dentition, no preocular scale?

Species Identification: very smooth and glossy scales, offset checkered stripes on venter

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Western Hognose Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Dipsadinae

Genus and Species: Heterodon nasicus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: family has opisthoglyph dentition, rostral turned upwards and keeled into shovel-like snout

Species Identification: lots of preorbital scales, venter black with small light patches

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Eastern Hognose

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Dipsadinae

Genus and Species: Heterodon platirhinos

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: family has opisthoglyph dentition, rostral turned upwards and keeled into shovel-like snout

Species Identification: prefrontas in contact, underside of tail lighter than venter, less preorbital scales

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Night Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Dipsadinae

Genus and Species: Hypsiglena sp.

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: family has opisthoglyph dentition, dorsum withour small blotches, sides with smaller spots

Species Identification:

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Rough Earth Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Haldea striatula

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: cloacal plate not divded, < 8 infralabials, dorsal scales strongly keeled

Species Identification: venter light and unpatterned, keeled scales

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Crayfish Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Liodytes rigida

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: both loreal and preocular scales present, scales keeled, dorsal scale rows 17

Species Identification: 2 row of traingles down stomach, anterior dorsal scales keeled, 2 internasals

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Plain-bellied Watersnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Nerodia erythrogaster

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: cloacal plate divided, dorsal scales keeled, loreal and preocular scale present, dorsal scales greater than or equal to 21, bands on face

Species Identification: venter with little to no markings, limited dark stripes/crossbands on dorsum

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Broad-banded Watersnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Nerodia fasciata

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: cloacal plate divided, dorsal scales keeled, loreal and preocular scale present, dorsal scales greater than or equal to 21, bands on face

Species Identification: dark line present from eye to jaw, dorsum with light crossbands

Way to Remember:

Common Name:

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Nerodia rhombifer

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: cloacal plate divided, dorsal scales keeled, loreal and preocular scale present, dorsal scales greater than or equal to 21, bands on face

Species Identification: checkerboard-like pattern, no subocular scale

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Graham's Crayfish Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Regina grahamii

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: venter immaculate or with median stripe or row of spots, anterior dorsal scales keeled

Species Identification: single row of dots on venter, lines down dorsum

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Dekay’s Brown Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Storeria dekayi

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: prefrontal not in contact with the eye, loreal or preocular absent

Species Identification: no loreal scale, tiny dots down side of body, dark head, spots down back

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Black-necked Gartersnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Thamnophis cyrtopsis

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: greater than to equal to 8 infralabials, cloacal plate not divided, keeled scales

Species Identification: black blotches present on sides of neck, 2 lateral series of conspircous dark spots, no lines along body

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Checkered Gartersnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Thamnophis marcianus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: greater than to equal to 8 infralabials, cloacal plate not divided, keeled scales

Species Identification: lateral light blue stripe anteriorly limited in 3rd scale row, checkered pattern, parietal spot on head

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Common Gartersnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Thamnophis sirtalis

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: greater than to equal to 8 infralabials, cloacal plate not divided, keeled scales

Species Identification: no parietal spots on head, 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody, lateral light stripes in scale rows 1-4

Way to Remember:

Common Name:

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Thamnophis proximus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: greater than to equal to 8 infralabials, cloacal plate not divided, keeled scales

Species Identification: parietal spot on head, lateral stripe on scale row 4 only

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Lined Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Tropidoclonion lineatum

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: double row of black spots on venter, <8 infralabials

Species Identification: 2 rows of triangles down stomach that are smaller and closer togther than Liodytes rigida, line down dorsum, spots on side

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Smooth Earth Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Genus and Species: Virginia valeriae

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scales smooth, 6 suprelabials and 2 postoculars

Species Identification: very tiny speckles, scales not keeled and are glossy, light plain venter

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Glossy Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Arizona elegans

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: 8 supralabials, 12-15 infralabials, middle of venter immaculate

Species Identification: tail long, dorsal scales not overlapping and are barely touching, venter unpatterned

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Trans-Pecos Ratsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Bogertophis subocularis

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: cloacla plate not divided, faint keels, suboculars present

Species Identification: 2 stripes down uppernack that transition to dark H-shaped marks

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Eastern Racer

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Coluber constrictor

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: 15 dorsal scale rows present at posterior end of the body, 2 preocular scales are very small

Species Identification: dark dorsum and light venter without any pattern, smooth scales

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Indigo Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Drymarchon melanurus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows > 17, middle venter with at least some dark markings

Species Identification: bands on face, smooth unkeeled scales, brown face, white ocassional scales, 2 anterior temporal scales

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Northern Speckled Racer

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Drymobius margaritiferus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: 8-9 supralabial scales and 10-11 infralbial scales

Species Identification: each scale has a black outline with a white spot in the center

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Mexican Hooknose Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Ficimia streckeri

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: rostral in contact with frontal, tail short and thick, head pointed

Species Identification: shovel-nosem thinner and less frequent horizontal stripes down back

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Western Hooknose Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Gyalopion canum

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows 17, one preocular

Species Identification: clocalc plate divded, shovel noce, defined blotch stripes down to tail

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Gray-banded Kingsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Lampropeltis alterna

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows >17, middle of venter with at least some marking, parietals not in contact with supralabials

Species Identification: dark and wide bands that are bordered by lighter lines

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Prairie Kingsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Lampropeltis calligaster

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows >17, middle of venter with at least some marking, parietals not in contact with supralabials

Species Identification: elongated blotches that are almost butterlfy shaped, blotches have anterior and posterior indentations on dorsal blotches

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Common Kingsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Lampropeltis getula

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows >17, middle of venter with at least some marking, parietals not in contact with supralabials

Species Identification: light colored crossbands that form a chain-like pattern, venter w/checkered pattern

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Milksnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Lampropeltis triangulum

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows >17, middle of venter with at least some marking, parietals not in contact with supralabials

Species Identification: dark bordered middorsal blotches extending well onto the sides

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Coachwhip

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Masticophis flagellum

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: less than or equal to 13 dorsal scale rows present at the posterior end of the body

Species Identification: pattern less, very long tail, venter and dosrum same color

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Rough Greensnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Opheodrys aestivus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: 7 supralabial scales and 7-8 infralabial scales, dosrum uniformly prigmented

Species Identification: At least some dorsal scales keeled, dorsum green

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Vinesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Oxybelis aeneus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: rostral not in contact with frontal, tail long and slender, head long and pointed

Species Identification: long face

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Emory's Ratsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Pantherophis emoryi

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows <30, suboculars absent, dorsal blotches

Species Identification: outlines of dorsal blotches dark, width of dorscal blotch 9-15 scales, v-shape on head, grey color

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Eastern Cornsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Pantherophis guttatus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows <30, suboculars absent, dorsal blotches

Species Identification: black outlines lighter and are the width of a single scale, light tan color

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Texas Ratsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Pantherophis obsoletus

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows <30, suboculars absent, dorsal blotches

Species Identification: no v-shape on head, spots not as clearly outlined, brown color, 8 supralabials

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Gophersnake; Bullsnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Pituophis catenifer

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows greater than or equal to 27, usually 4 prefrontals, keeled scales

Species Identification: dark line extending from eye to the jaw

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Mountain Patchnose Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Salvadora grahamiae

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: rostral enlarged with free edges, 2-3 preoculars

Species Identification: posterior chin shields in contact or seperated by one scale, green strips, flat rostral scale

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Ground Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Sonora semiannulata

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scale rows 13, either loreal or preocular absent

Species Identification: circlular smooth scales, brown dorsum with unpatterned venter

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Long-nosed snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Rhinocheilus lecontei

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: subcaudals not dividede, dorsal scales smooth

Species Identification: black with white stripes, underbite, worn-down looking sclaes

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Flathead Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Tantilla gracilis

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: top of head flattened, dorsal scale rows 15

Species Identification: head scarcly darker than body, 6 supralabials, usually 1 post ocular

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Plains Blackheaded Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Tantilla nigriceps

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: top of head flattened, dorsal scale rows 15

Species Identification: head darker and covering more scales, extends at least 3 scale rows

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Lyre Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Colubrinae

Genus and Species: Trimorphodon vilkinsonii

Subfamily and Genus Charcteristics: dorsal scales rows greated than or equal to 25, dorsal scales smooth, cloacal plate divided

Species Identification: narrow blotch on top and skinny on sides, dark blotches 2-4 scales wide, opposite pattern to copperhead

Way to Remember: