Hypsiglena
| Hypsiglena | |
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| Texas night snake Hypsiglena jani texana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Dipsadinae |
| Genus: |
Hypsiglena Cope, 1860 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Hypsiglena is a genus of small, rear-fanged, colubrid snakes commonly referred to as night snakes. The genus consists of nine species, and subspecies have been maintained pending further investigation.
Hypsiglena are found throughout the southwestern and western United States, from Texas and Kansas, west to California, north to Washington, and south into Mexico, as well as on islands off the coasts of Mexico.
Their preferred habitat is semiarid desert regions with rocky and sandy soils.
Night snakes typically do not exceed a total length of 40 cm (16 in). They are slender-bodied with a flattened head, and have small eyes with vertical pupils. Their color varies depending on their locality, often matching the soil color of their native habitat. They occur in various shades of gray, and brown, with dark brown, gray or black blotches on the back and the sides. Many also have distinctive black markings on the neck region.
Hypsiglena are nocturnal and terrestrial.
Their diet consists primarily of lizards, but they will also consume smaller snakes, and amphibians.
Their venom is not considered to be dangerous to humans.
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Wikipedia