Description: Adults of Salvadora hexalepis are, on average, 20 to 46 inches in total length; the record total length is 58 inches. They have a distinctive, thick scale curved back over the top of the snout, and free at the edges. All subspecies are yellowish with blackish lateral stripes in various arrangements. The dorsal scales are smooth, and the anal plate is divided.

Habitat: The species' habitat consists of sandy and rocky areas of plains and lower mountain slopes; creosote bush desert, ocotillo-yucca-agave flats, mesquite dominated washes, tobosa-grama grassland, broken upland terrain, succulent desert, partially dry streambeds of foothills and mesas, sagebrush semi-desert, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodland; this snake is mainly terrestrial but sometimes climbs into vegetation.

Range: It is found in the southwestern United States in the states of Arizona, southern California, Nevada, southern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas. It is also found in northern Mexico in the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora.

Found in these States: AZ | CA | NV | UT

Diet: It feeds upon lizards, snakes, reptile eggs, and small rodents.

Reproduction: 4 to 10 eggs are laid during spring or early summer and hatch in August through September.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of the large and relatively stable extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size. No major threats exist for this species.

Subspecies: Four, with just three found in the United States:
   Desert Patchnose Snake - (Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis)
   Baja California Patch-nosed Snake - (Salvadora hexalepis klauberi)
   Mojave Patchnose Snake - (Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis)
   Coast Patchnose Snake - (Salvadora hexalepis virgultea)

Taxonomy: