California Night Snake

Taxobox
name = California Night Snake
status =


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Colubridae
genus = "Hypsiglena"
species = "H. torquata"
subspecies = "H. t. nuchalata"
trinomial = "Hypsiglena torquata nuchalata"
trinomial_authority = Tanner, 1943

The California Night Snake ("Hypsiglena torquata nuchalata") is a species of small colubrid snake native to California.

Description

The California Night Snake grows from 12 to 26 inches (30 to 66 cm) in length, with hatchlings about 7 inches.cite web |url=http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/h.t.nuchalata.html |title="Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha nuchalata" - California Nightsnake |access-date= 2008-05-10]

The snake has a narrow flat head, smooth scales in 19 rows, and eyes with vertically elliptical pupils.They are considered to be rear-fanged venomous, but not dangerous to humans.

The color varies from light grey, light brown, tan, or cream, often matching the substrate of the reigion, with dark brown or dark grey blotches down the back and sides. The underside is whitish or yellowish and unmarked, and they usually has a pair of large dark markings on the neck, and a dark bar through or behind the eyes.

Behavior

As their common name implies, they are a primarily nocturnal snake. Their diet consists of primarily lizard, but they will also eat smaller snakes and occasionally soft bodied insect. They prefer semi-arid habitats with rocky soils. They are an oviparous species that breed from April to September.

Geographic range

The California Night Snake ranges throughout western California, ringing the central valley, but is not found in the valley itself. It is one of two night snake species in the state. The other is the Desert Night Snake.

References

*EMBL species|genus=Hypsiglena|species=torquata
* [http://www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/nightsnakes.id.html California Herps: "Hypsiglena torquata"]