Description: Although most are smaller, this little snake with the modified, free-edged rostral (nosetip) scale may attain an 18 to 20” adult size. Ground color is cream and the large blotches are dark to warm brown and have darker edges. The belly is white. It often becomes surface active on warm humid or rainy nights. Scales are usually smooth but are occasionally weakly keeled. Rostral (nosetip) scale is enlarged and has free edges. The body color of cream and saddles of chocolate brown are distinctive.

Habitat: In the north, this snake occurs in upland rocky or sandy desert dominated by mesquite, creosote bush, saltbush, paloverde, and saguaro; habitats in the south include thorn scrub and the lower edge of thorn forest. It burrows into rocky or sandy soil.

Range: This species is patchily distributed from south-central Arizona, United States, south through Sonora to southern Sinaloa, Mexico, at elevations of about 1,000 to 3,000 feet.

Found in these States: AZ

Diet: Prey consists primarily of lizard eggs and may be even more specifically restricted to banded geckos and their eggs.

Reproduction: Oviparous. Lays a clutch of 2-5 (mainly 4-5) eggs; is has been recorded oviductal eggs in mid-June in Arizona.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: