Glossy Snake

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Not R2 SS, But Should Be Considered for other Emphasis Species Lists Recommendations and Evaluations Common Name: Glossy Snake Scientific Name: Arizona elegans Recommendation: Not R2 SS, be should be considered for other Emphasis Species Lists Recommendation Rationale: The Glossy Snake is a southwestern and southern Great Plains species. In R2 it is found across far eastern and southeastern Colorado, and western and southern Kansas. In Nebraska, it previously was known only from the extreme southwestern portion of the state, near the Colorado border. A recent record near the Halsey NF could mean it is somewhat more widely distributed in western Nebraska than previously known. The Glossy snake is known from the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, and could occur on the Pawnee and Halsey units. Because this species is secretive, its distribution is likely still under-described and its population status largely unknown. It is an inhabitant of sand hills and soft alluvial soil environments. As agricultural development has stabilized to some degree, the decline of Glossy Snake habitat has likely slowed as well. Furthermore, many sand hills habitats of this species are largely unsuitable for cultivation and development and, therefore, reasonably secure for the time being. Pending better information on this species, there does not appear at this time to be a compelling reason to assign sensitive species status. However, we recommend that units occupied by this species consider for inclusion on other species lists used for planning efforts. Note: In addition to the evaluator’s references, also referred to biodiversity documentation at Natureserve.org, distribution data from the Colorado Herpetological Society; Hammerson 1999; and Collins and Collins (1991) Reptiles and Amphibians of the Cimarron National Grasslands, Morton County, Kansas; Collins 1974. .

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Class: Amphibia Amphibians Order
CLASS: AMPHIBIA AMPHIBIANS ANNIELLIDAE (Legless Lizards & Allies) CLASS: AMPHIBIA AMPHIBIANS Anniella (Legless Lizards) ORDER: ANURA FROGS AND TOADS ___Silvery Legless Lizard .......................... DS,RI,UR – uD ORDER: ANURA FROGS AND TOADS BUFONIDAE (True Toad Family) BUFONIDAE (True Toad Family) ___Southern Alligator Lizard ............................ RI,DE – fD Bufo (True Toads) Suborder: SERPENTES SNAKES Bufo (True Toads) ___California (Western) Toad.............. AQ,DS,RI,UR – cN ___California (Western) Toad ............. AQ,DS,RI,UR – cN ANNIELLIDAE (Legless Lizards & Allies) Anniella ___Red-spotted Toad ...................................... AQ,DS - cN BOIDAE (Boas & Pythons) ___Red-spotted Toad ...................................... AQ,DS - cN (Legless Lizards) Charina (Rosy & Rubber Boas) ___Silvery Legless Lizard .......................... DS,RI,UR – uD HYLIDAE (Chorus Frog and Treefrog Family) ___Rosy Boa ............................................ DS,CH,RO – fN HYLIDAE (Chorus Frog and Treefrog Family) Pseudacris (Chorus Frogs) Pseudacris (Chorus Frogs) Suborder: SERPENTES SNAKES ___California Chorus Frog ............ AQ,DS,RI,DE,RO – cN COLUBRIDAE (Colubrid Snakes) ___California Chorus Frog ............ AQ,DS,RI,DE,RO – cN ___Pacific Chorus Frog ....................... AQ,DS,RI,DE – cN Arizona (Glossy Snakes) ___Pacific Chorus Frog ........................AQ,DS,RI,DE – cN BOIDAE (Boas & Pythons) ___Glossy Snake ........................................... DS,SA – cN Charina (Rosy & Rubber Boas) RANIDAE (True Frog Family)
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Biological Assessment, Botanical, and Burrowing Owl Survey for the Cajon Boulevard Warehouse Project, San Bernardino County, California
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Predation on the Black-Throated Sparrow Amphispiza Bilineata
Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 401-403 (2020) (published online on 26 May 2020) Predation on the black-throated sparrow Amphispiza bilineata (Cassin, 1850) and scavenging behaviour on the western banded gecko Coleonyx variegatus (Baird, 1858) by the glossy snake Arizona elegans Kennicott, 1859 Miguel A. Martínez1 and Manuel de Luna1,* The glossy snake Arizona elegans Kennicott, 1859 is Robles et al., 1999a), no specific species have been a nocturnal North American colubrid found from central identified as a prey item until this paper, in which we California to southwestern Nebraska in the United States present evidence of predation on the black-throated and south through Baja California, Aguascalientes, San sparrow Amphispiza bilineata (Cassin, 1850). Luis Potosí and Sinaloa in Mexico (Dixon and Fleet, On 20 September 2017, at around 23:00 h, an 1976). Several species have been identified as prey adult specimen of Arizona elegans was found in the items of this snake (Rodríguez-Robles et al., 1999a) municipality of Hipólito (25.7780 N, -101.4017 W, including the mole Scalopus aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758) 1195 m a.s.l.), state of Coahuila, Mexico. The snake (Eulipotyphla: Talpidae), the rodents Peromyscus sp. had caught and was in the process of killing and then (Rodentia: Cricetidae), Chaetodipus formosus (Merriam, consuming a small bird (Fig. 1); this act lasted close to 1889), Dipodomys merriami Mearns, 1890, Dipodomys 30 minutes. After completely swallowing its prey, the ordii Woodhouse, 1853, Dipodomys sp., Perognathus snake crawled away to a safe spot under a group of inornatus Merriam, 1889, Perognathus (sensu lato) sp. nearby dead Agave lechuguilla plants.
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Inventory of Amphibians and Reptiles at Death Valley National Park
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Abundance and Species Richness of Snakes Along the Middle Rio Grande Riparian Forest in New Mexico
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 4(1):1-8 Submitted: 24 January 2008; Accepted: 4 February 2009 ABUNDANCE AND SPECIES RICHNESS OF SNAKES ALONG THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE RIPARIAN FOREST IN NEW MEXICO 1,2,3,5 3,4 1 HEATHER L. BATEMAN , ALICE CHUNG-MACCOUBREY , HOWARD L. SNELL , 3 AND DEBORAH M. FINCH 1Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, USA 2Applied Biological Sciences, Arizona State University Polytechnic, Mesa, Arizona 85212, USA 3USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, USA 4USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network, Boulder City, Nevada 89005, USA 5e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—To understand the effects of removal of non-native plants and fuels on wildlife in the riparian forest of the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico, we monitored snakes from 2000 to 2006 using trap arrays of drift fences, pitfalls, and funnel traps. We recorded 158 captures of 13 species of snakes from 12 study sites. We captured more snakes in funnel traps than in pitfalls. The most frequent captures were Common Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula), Gopher Snakes (Pituophis catenifer), Plains Black-headed Snakes (Tantilla nigriceps), and Plains Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon nasicus). We did not detect an effect of non-native plants and fuels removal on the rate of captures; however, we recommend using other trapping and survey techniques to monitor snakes to better determine the impact of plant removal on the snake community. Compared to historical records, we did not report any new species but we did not capture all snakes previously recorded.
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Life History Account for Glossy Snake
California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System California Department of Fish and Wildlife California Interagency Wildlife Task Group GLOSSY SNAKE Arizona elegans Family: COLUBRIDAE Order: SQUAMATA Class: REPTILIA R056 Written by: S. Morey Reviewed by: T. Papenfuss Edited by: R. Duke DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALITY This snake is common throughout southern California especially in desert regions. Less common to the north, glossy snakes occur in the interior Coast Ranges as far as Mount Diablo in Contra Costa Co. Glossy snakes are most common in desert habitats but also occur in chaparral, sagebrush, valley-foothill hardwood, pine-juniper, and annual grass. Elevation from below sea level to 1830 m (6,000 ft). SPECIFIC HABITAT REQUIREMENTS Feeding: Glossy snakes feed on a variety of desert lizards including juvenile desert iguanas (Cunningham 1959), and zebra-tailed lizards (Vitt and Ohmart 1977). They are listed as probable predators of side-blotched lizards by Ferguson et al. (1982). Captive individuals have been observed to eat young mice and small birds (Stebbins 1954). Cover: Primarily nocturnal, glossy snakes spend periods of inactivity during the day and during winter in mammal burrows and rock outcrops, and to a lesser extent under surface objects such as flat rocks and vegetation residue. Individuals occasionally burrow in loose soil. Reproduction: Eggs are laid a few centimeters below the surface in loose soil, under surface objects or near the base of vegetation, or in abandoned mammal burrows. Water: No information on water requirements. Glossy snakes are most common in arid regions. Standing water is not an important habitat element. Pattern: Prefer open sandy areas with scattered brush, but also found in rocky areas.
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Chihuahuan Desert National Parks Reptile and Amphibian Inventory
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Chihuahuan Desert National Parks Reptile and Amphibian Inventory Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/CHDN/NRTR—2011/489 ON THE COVER Trans-Pecos Ratsnake (Bogertophis subocularis subocularis) at Big Bend National Park, Texas. Photograph by Dave Prival. Chihuahuan Desert National Parks Reptile and Amphibian Inventory Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/CHDN/NRTR—2011/489 Authors: Dave Prival and Matt Goode School of Natural Resources University of Arizona Editors: Ann Lewis Physical Science Laboratory New Mexico State University M. Hildegard Reiser Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Program National Park Service September 2011 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Technical Report Series is used to disseminate results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series provides contributors with a forum for displaying comprehensive data that are often deleted from journals because of page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner.
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BMGR-W Small Mammal, Reptile, Amphibian Brochure
CONSERVING THE LANDSCAPE For additional information regarding REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, & AND THE DOD MISSION reptiles, amphibians, and small As the manager and primary user of the SMALL MAMMALS OF THE 700k acre Barry M. Goldwater Range mammals or for general inquires West (BMGR-W), the U.S. Marine Corps regarding natural resources BMGR-W (USMC) is responsible for maintaining management on the BMGR-W, please MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA the ecological integrity of the range, while simultaneously providing a realis- contact the Range Management tic training environment for our nation’s Department: warfighters. Additionally, the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 and the Sikes Act mandates that the USMC de- velop and adhere to an Integrated Natu- ral Resources Management Plan (INRMP) which “includes provisions for proper management and protection of the natural and cultural resources of the range, and for sustainable use by the public of such resources to the extent consistent with military purposes.” The INRMP for the BMGR-W requires that baseline surveys for small mammals, MCAS Yuma/Range Management Dept. reptiles, and amphibians be established so that natural resource managers may P.O. Box 99134/BLDG. 151 determine how best to allocate efforts Yuma, AZ 85369-9134 to protect these resources. The infor- mation presented in this brochure is a product of that objective and is being Phone: 928-269-3402 provided to increase public awareness and enhance the visitor experience. Small Mammals Continued: Amphibians : Reptiles (Snakes): □ Rock Squirrel,
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COLUBRIDAE Chwnactis Occipitalis
REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: COLUBRIDAE Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Mahrdt, C.R., K.R. Beaman, P.C. Rosen, and P.A. Holm. 2001. Chionactis occipitalis. Chwnactis occipitalis (Hallowell) Western Shovel-Nosed Snake Rhinostoma occipitale Hallowell 1854:95. Type locality, "Mo- have Desert" (= in the region of the Mojave River, western San Bernardino County, California). Holotype cannot be lo- cated, but is figured in Hallowell (1 859: plate IV, fig. 2a-c). Lamprosom occipitale: Hallowell 1856:3 11. Chionactis occipitale: Cope 1860:241. First use of combina- FIGURE 1. Chionactis occipitalis annulata from Borrego Springs, San Diego County. California (photograph by L.L. Grismer). tion. Chionactis occipitulis: Cooper 1870:66. First use of current combination. Homalosoma occipitale: Miiller 1882: 125. Contio occipitulis: Garman 1884a:9 1. Contia occipitule: Brown 190 1:68 (part). Chioructis occipitalis: Meek 1905: 15. Incorrect subsequent spelling. Sonora occipitalis: Van Denburgh and Slevin 1913:412 (part). CONTENT. Four subspecies are currently recognized: Chionactis occipitalis occipitalis. C. o, annulatu, C. o. klauberi, Wash, Kingston Range, San Bernardino County, California (photograph and C. o. tulpina. by C. Brown). DEFINITION. Chionactis occipitalis is a small colubrid snake (or absent), rather than broad, red saddles between the dark bands with a maximum recorded TL of a live specimen of 425 rnrn on the body and tail (Mahrdt et al. 2001). (Klauber 1951). Scutellation is as follows: dorsal scale rows 15-1 5-15; ventrals 146-176 (146-165, males; 154-176, DESCRIPTIONS. The original description of Chionactis females); subcaudals 37-50 (39-50, males; 37-48, females); occipitalis was published by Hallowell (1854).
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AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES of ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT Compiled by the Interpretive Staff with Technical Assistance from Dr
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT Compiled by the Interpretive Staff With Technical Assistance From Dr. J . C. McCoy, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburg, Pa. and Dr. Robert C. Stebbins, University of California, Berkeley Comm:m Names Scientific Names Amphibians Class Amphibia Frogs ~ Toads Order Sa.;J.ienta Toads Family Bufonidae Colorado River toad Bufo alvaris (s) Great plains toad nuro co~tus (s) Red- spotted toad Biil'O puncatus (s) Sonora green toad Buf'O retiformis Spadefoot Toads Family Pelobatidae Couch's spadefoot Scaphiopus couchi (8) Reptiles Class Reptilia Turtles Order Testudinata Mud Turtles and Their Allies Family Chelydridae Sonora mud turtle Kinosternon sonorien8e (s) Land Tortoises and Their Allies Family Testudinjdae - -.;.;.;.;;;.;;;;;..--- Desert tortoise Gopherus agassizi Lizards and Snakes Order Squamata Lizards Suborder Sauria Geckos Family Gekkonidae Desert banded gecko Coleoqyx ! . variegatus (s) Iguanids Family Iguanidae Arizona zebra- tailed lizard Callisaurus draconoides ventralis (s) Western collard lizard Crotaphytus collaris bailer) ( s) Long-nosed leopard lizard Crotaphytus ! . wislizeni (s Desert iguana ~saurus d. dorsalis (s) Southern desert horned lizard osoma p!atyrhinos calidiarum Regal horned lizard Phrynosoma solara ( s) Arizona chuckwalla Sauromalus obesus tumidus (s) Desert spi~ lizard SceloEorus m. magister (s) Colorado River tree lizard Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus (s) Desert side-blotched lizard ~ stansburiana stejnegeri (s) Teids Family Teidae Red-backed whiptail Cnemidophorus burti xanthonot us ~) Southern whiptail Cnemidophorus tigris gracilis (6) Venomous Lizards Family Heloderrr~tidae Reticula.te Gila m:mster Heloderma ! .. suspectum (6) Snakes Suborder Serpentes Worm Snakes Family Leptotyphlopidae Southwestern blind snake Leptottphlops h. humilis (s) Boas Family Boidae Desert rosy boa Lichanura trivirgata gracia (s) Colubrids Family Colubridae Arizona glossy snake Arizona elegans noctivaga c.
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The Glossy Snake (Arizona Elegans)
78 I Litteratura Serpentium, 1992, Vol. 12, No. 5 THE GLOSSY SNAKE (ARIZONA ELEGANS) By: Pete Strimple, 5310 Sultana Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45238, U.S.A. Contents: Introduction - Description - Range - Habitat - Subspecies in the United States - Food - Reproduction - Habits. * * * INTRODUCTION The genus Arizona is a monotypic genus with its species beingArizona elegans. This species was first described by Kennicott in 1859. The type is actually two specimens (cotypes) collected at the lower 'Rio Grande,' Texas, and 'between Arkansas and Cimarron' River, Oklahoma. Later in 1950, Smith & Taylor restricted this rather broad locality to Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas. DESCRIPTION Glossy snakes are moderately sized, averaging 60-100 cm in total length. The maximum length attained by this species is 142 cm. Snakes of the genus Arizona have a dorsal pattern comprised of 39-83 blotches that can be tan, brown, or grayish in color. These blotches are wider than they are long, and are edged in black. The ground color is more variable and can be straw, cream, light brown, yellowish-gray, pinkish, or gray. The ventrum coloration is white, buff, or yellowish, and is unmarked ( except in the California glossy snake). On each side of the head there is a dark postocular stripe that passes from the eye to the angle of the jaw. Frequently there is a lighter band crossing the head between the eyes. Depending on the subspecies, the scale rows at mid-body range between 25-35. The dorsal scales in this species are smooth. Two of the more noticeable characteristics of this species are the pointed snout and the countersunk lower jaw.
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Zootaxa, at the Lower Size Limit in Snakes
Zootaxa 1841: 1–30 (2008) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2008 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) At the lower size limit in snakes: two new species of threadsnakes (Squamata: Leptotyphlopidae: Leptotyphlops) from the Lesser Antilles S. BLAIR HEDGES Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802-5301 USA. E-mail:[email protected] Abstract Islands are viewed as natural evolutionary laboratories for terrestrial organisms because they have boundaries that limit dispersal and often reveal evolutionary patterns and mechanisms. One such pattern is that the smallest and largest species of different types of tetrapod animals are frequently found on islands. Here I describe two new diminutive species of snakes of the genus Leptotyphlops from the Lesser Antilles: one from Saint Lucia and the other from Barbados. The one from Barbados is the smallest species of snake and has a total adult length of approximately 100 mm. Limited evidence indicates a clutch size of one and a greatly elongated egg shape (length /width). Comparison of egg shapes in snakes indi- cates that the shape is a packaging phenomenon, related primarily to the shape of the available body cavity and clutch size. For a clutch size of one, expected egg shape is eight whereas expected egg shape drops to two at a clutch size of ten. The body shape of snakes, defined as snout-to-vent length divided by width, also varies and influences the shape of snake eggs. The smallest snakes are typically stout-bodied with shapes of 30–35 whereas the longest snakes usually are more elongate, with shapes of 45–50.
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