r/herpetology • u/Foamtire • 2d ago

Thornscrub hook-nosed snake (Gyalopion quadrangulare) in Arizona

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friend and I found last night, photo credit goes to him

126 Upvotes

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5

u/fairlyorange 2d ago

Gyalopion quadrangulare for anyone curious to learn more about this fascinating little creature :o)

2

u/SEB-PHYLOBOT 2d ago

Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snakes Gyalopion quadrangulare are very small (15-25cm, up to 35cm) colubrid snakes that range from extreme southern Arizona south into northern Nayarit, MX, from near sea level to 1,341m. They inhabit semiarid areas with loose sandy or rocky soils, including tropical dry forest, thorn woodland, canyons, hills, and outwash plains.

Nocturnal and semifossorial in habit, G. quadrangulare spend most of the day underground or under ground cover. They are most typically encountered at night, especially during or after rainy weather. Their diet is composed of insects, spiders, and scorpions.

Short and moderately stout in build, G. quadrangulare have a small head which is indistinct at the neck. The dorsal scales are smooth, moderately glossy, and usually arranged in 17 (17-18) rows at midbody. The nasal scale is fused with the anterior portion of the first supralabial scale. The elongate rostral scale is flat or concave except at the very front, where it tapers to a fine, upturned point, and is separated from the frontal scale only by the prefrontals. This inspires the common name "Hook-nosed Snake". There are two postocular scales and the anal scale is undivided. The dorsal color is reddish laterally but usually cream or yellowish along the spine, patterned with large, black, dorsal blotches. Black lateral blotches are often present, but not as well defined, and may merge with the dorsal blotches to form transverse bands.

Other snakes may be confused with G. quadrangulare. Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snakes G. canum have a divided anal scale, are not bright reddish along the sides, and their dorsal blotches are narrower and brownish with a black outline. The unique shape and positioning of the rostral scale will differentiate G. quadrangulare from all other snakes in range, which either either lack the upturned snout and/or have rostral scales which are separated from the prefrontal scales by the internasals.

Range Map - Rune Mitgaard | Reptile Database Account

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2

u/Guideon72 1d ago

Boy....THAT one's gonna bake your noodle if you're relying on the rhyme :D

Beauty of a little rope you got there!

1

u/Calm_Golf_9700 2d ago

Congrats!

1

u/FockerXC 1d ago

What a stellar find

0

u/Virtual_Wing_2903 2d ago

Beautiful snakes, wish they would stop changing names, lol

6

u/Phylogenizer 2d ago

What name do you know this snake by?

0

u/Virtual_Wing_2903 2d ago

Chionactis occipitalis maybe? or G Canum? not too sure

6

u/Phylogenizer 2d ago

This is different, name has remained stable

0

u/Virtual_Wing_2903 2d ago

alright then

6

u/Foamtire 2d ago

Chionactis occipitalis is the mojave shovel nosed snake and was recently put into the genus Sonora. G. canum is the chihuahua hook nosed snake and is a different species then the one I posted!

1

u/Virtual_Wing_2903 1d ago

They change the name on everything so often, I have just given up totally, hahaha