- SCIENTIFIC NAME
- Chionactis occipitalis
- CLASSIFICATION
- Reptile
- STATE CONSERVATION STATUS
-
- Priority Species
- Unprotected
- FEDERAL CONSERVATION STATUS
- Least Concern
- GAME STATUS
- Non-Game
- Washoe
- Humboldt
- Pershing
- Churchill
- Mineral
- Lyon
- Douglas
- Carson City
- Storey
- Elko
- Lander
- Eureka
- White Pine
- Esmeralda
- Nye
- Lincoln
- Clark
Habitat & Range
The Mojave Shovel-nosed Snake is a species that can be found in sparsely vegetated desert, rocky slopes, dunes, washes, and sandy flats. Because it is a burrowing species, it prefers flat areas with sandy soils. In Nevada, they are found in the southern part of the state.
- Mojave desert
- Sand Dunes
- Warm desert riparian
Threats
- Disturbance
- Habitat Loss
Natural History
The Mojave Shovel-nosed Snake is a burrowing snake that feeds on various invertebrates, including insects, spiders, scorpions, and centipedes. This snake is nocturnal. It has been observed on the surface during the day only a few times, usually coiled under a bush. Snakes often lie just under the surface of the sand where they can be heated by the warmth of the sun without exposing themselves. They breed in the spring with an average of 2-4 eggs laid underground.
Fun Facts
The Mojave Shovel-nosed Snake catches prey as it burrows underground or "swims" through sand.
OTHER Species
