Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association
Sonoran Desert Reptiles
Chionactis palarostris (Sonoran shovelnose snake)

Resembles Sonoran Coral Snake, but is harmless. Crossbanded with black, yellow (or whitish) and red, mot of the black bands encircling body. Red saddles vary in width; in s. Arizona about same width as the black bands, but in Sonora may be 2 or nearly 3 times wider. Usually fewer than 21 black bands on body, bordered in front and back by a narrow or wide (Sonora) yellow band. Snout yellow, slightly convex in profile; back of head black. Lower jaw countersunk. Belly concaved. Nasal valves well developed. Scales smooth, usually in 15 rows. Anal divided.

HTML & Programing by
Thomas R. Powell