Trimorphodon biscutatus

Taxobox
name = Western Lyre Snake

---

image_caption = Texas Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Colubridae
genus = "Trimorphodon"
species = "T. biscutatus"
binomial = "Trimorphodon biscutatus"
binomial_authority = Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854

The Western Lyre Snake ("Trimorphodon biscutatus") is a mildly venomous colubrid snake native to the western United States, northern Mexico, and Central America.

Description

They are a moderately sized snake, attaining lengths of approximately 1 meter at adult size. They are generally a brown, tan or grey in color with dark brown blotching down the back. They have large eyes with vertical pupils.

Behavior

They are nocturnal and secretive, spending most of their time in rock crevices, and other areas difficult for potential predators to access. Their diet consists of lizards, small rodents, frogs, and bats. Their venom is not considered to be harmful to humans.

Geographic range

Western lyre snakes are found in the United States from the western Texas, across the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona to California, and north into southern Nevada. In Mexico they are found primarily in the Baja California and Chihuahua regions. The most recently identified species of western lyre snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus quadruplex" is found throughout Central America.

Subspecies

*Western Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus biscutatus" (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854)
*Sonoran Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda" (Cope, 1886)
*Baja California Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes" (Cope, 1860)
*"Trimorphodon biscutatus quadruplex" (Smith, 1941)
*Texas Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii" (Cope, 1886)

References

*EMBL species|genus=Trimorphodon|species=biscutatus

External links

* [http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/animals/species/4440.html Yahooligans: Western Lyre Snake]