Snakes of North America: Eastern and Central Regions [Paperback ed.] 1589070038, 9781589070035

Table of contents :
SNAKES OF NORTH AMERICA......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
Acknowledgements......Page 21
Preface......Page 27
Introduction......Page 32
The Evolution of Snakes......Page 35
Snake Venom Poisoning......Page 49
Venom Potency Table......Page 60
Ramphotyphlops
......Page 61
1 Brahminy Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops braminus......Page 62
Leptotyphlops
......Page 63
2 Plains Blind Snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis dulcis......Page 64
3 New Mexico Blind Snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis dissectus......Page 65
4 Trans-Pecos Blind Snake, Leptotyphlops humilis segregus......Page 67
Tantilla
......Page 68
5 Southeastern Crowned Snake, Tantilla coronata......Page 69
6 Peninsula Crowned Snake, Tantilla relicta relicta......Page 71
7 Central Florida Crowned Snake, Tantilla relicta neilli......Page 72
8 Coastal Dunes Crowned Snake, Tantilla relicta pamlica......Page 73
9 Rim Rock Crowned Snake, Tantilla oolitica......Page 74
10 Flat-headed Snake, Tantilla gracilis......Page 76
11 Plains Black-headed Snake, Tantilla nigriceps......Page 78
12 Southwestern Black-headed Snake, Tantilla hobartsmithi......Page 79
13 Mexican Black-headed Snake, Tantilla atriceps......Page 81
14 Black-hooded Snake, Tantilla rubra cucullata......Page 82
Storeria
......Page 84
15 Northern Red-bellied Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata......Page 85
16 Florida Red-bellied Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata obscura......Page 87
17 Black Hills Red-bellied Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata pahasapae......Page 89
18 Northern Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi dekayi......Page 90
19 Florida Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi victa......Page 92
20 Midland Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi wrightorum......Page 93
21 Texas Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi texana......Page 95
22 Marsh Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi limnetes......Page 97
Virginia
......Page 98
23 Eastern Earth Snake, Virginia valeriae valeria......Page 99
24 Mountain Earth Snake, Virginia valeriae pulchra......Page 100
25 Western Earth Snake, Virginia valeriae elegans......Page 102
26 Rough Earth Snake, Virginia striatula......Page 103
Diadophis
......Page 105
27 Southern Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus punctatus......Page 106
28 Northern Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus edwardsii......Page 107
29 Key Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus acricus......Page 109
30 Mississippi Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus stictogenys......Page 110
31 Prairie Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus arnyi......Page 112
32 Regal Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus regalis......Page 113
33 Ground Snake, Sonora semiannulata......Page 115
34 Eastern Worm Snake, Carphophis amoenus amoenus......Page 117
35 Midwestern Worm Snake, Carphophis amoenus helenae......Page 119
36 Western Worm Snake, Carphophis amoenus vermis......Page 120
37 Pine Woods Snake, Rhadinaea flavilata......Page 121
Stilosoma
......Page 123
38 Short-tailed Snake, Stilosoma extenuatum......Page 124
39 Lined Snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum......Page 126
Thamnophis
......Page 127
40 Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis......Page 129
41 Maritime Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus......Page 131
42 Blue-striped Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis similis......Page 132
43 Chicago Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis semifasciatus......Page 133
44 Red-sided Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis......Page 134
45 Texas Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis annectens......Page 136
46 Short-headed Garter Snake, Thamnophis brachystoma......Page 137
47 Butler's Garter Snake, Thamnophis butleri......Page 138
48 Wandering Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans vagrans......Page 139
49 Eastern Plains Garter Snake, Thamnophis radix radix......Page 141
50 Western Plains Garter Snake, Thamnophis radix haydeni......Page 142
51 Checkered Garter Snake, Thamnophis marcianus marcianus......Page 144
52 Western Black-necked Garter Snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis......Page 146
53 Eastern Black-necked Garter Snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus......Page 147
54 Eastern Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus sauritus......Page 149
55 Northern Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis......Page 151
56 Peninsula Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus sackenii......Page 152
57 Blue-striped Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus nitae......Page 153
58 Western Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus proximus......Page 154
59 Red-striped Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus......Page 156
60 Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus orarius......Page 158
61 Arid Land Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus diabolicus......Page 159
Nerodia
......Page 161
62 Northern Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon sipedon......Page 162
63 Lake Erie Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon insularum......Page 164
64 Midland Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon pleuralis......Page 167
65 Carolina Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon williamengelsi......Page 168
66 Red-bellied Water Snake, Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster......Page 169
67 Copper-bellied Water Snake, Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta......Page 171
68 Yellow-bellied Water Snake, Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster......Page 173
69 Blotched Water Snake, Nerodia erythrogaster transversa......Page 175
70 Banded Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata fasciata......Page 177
71 Broad-banded Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata confluens......Page 179
72 Florida Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata pictiventris......Page 180
73 Gulf Salt Marsh Snake, Nerodia clarki clarkii......Page 182
74 Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake, Nerodia clarki taeniata......Page 183
75 Mangrove Salt Marsh Snake, Nerodia clarki compressicauda......Page 185
76 Florida Green Water Snake, Nerodia floridana......Page 186
77 Mississippi Green Water Snake, Nerodia cyclopion......Page 188
78 Brown Water Snake, Nerodia taxispilota......Page 189
79 Diamond-backed Water Snake, Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer......Page 191
80 Brazos Water Snake, Nerodia harteri harteri......Page 193
81 Concho Water Snake, Nerodia harteri paucimaculata......Page 195
Seminatrix......Page 196
82 North Florida Swamp Snake, Seminatrix pygaea pygaea......Page 197
83 South Florida Swamp Snake, Seminatrix pygaea cyclas......Page 198
84 Carolina Swamp Snake, Seminatrix pygaea paludis......Page 199
Regina
......Page 200
85 Striped Crayfish Snake, Regina alleni......Page 201
86 Glossy Crayfish Snake, Regina rigida rigida......Page 202
87 Delta Crayfish Snake, Regina rigida deltae......Page 203
88 Gulf Crayfish Snake, Regina rigida sinicola......Page 204
89 Queen Snake, Regina septemvittata......Page 206
90 Graham's Crayfish Snake, Regina grahamii......Page 207
Farancia
......Page 209
91 Eastern Mud Snake, Farancia abacura abacura......Page 210
92 Western Mud Snake, Farancia abacura reinwardtii......Page 211
93 Rainbow Snake, Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma......Page 213
94 South Florida Rainbow Snake, Farancia erytrogramma seminola......Page 216
Clonophis
......Page 217
95 Kirtland's Snake, Clonophis kirtlandii......Page 218
Salvadora
......Page 219
96 Mountain Patch-nosed Snake, Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae......Page 220
97 Texas Patch-nosed Snake, Salvadora grahamiae lineata......Page 221
98 Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake, Salvadora deserticola......Page 223
Liochlorophis and Opheodrys
......Page 224
99 Smooth Green Snake, Liochlorophis vernalis......Page 225
100 Rough Green Snake, Opheodrys aestivus......Page 228
Masticophis
......Page 229
101 Eastern Coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum flagellum......Page 230
102 Western Coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum testaceus......Page 233
103 Desert Striped Whipsnake, Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus......Page 355
104 Central Texas Whipsnake, Masticophis taeniatus girardi......Page 356
105 Schott's Whipsnake, Masticophis schotti......Page 358
106 Ruthven's Whipsnake, Masticophis ruthveni......Page 359
Coluber
......Page 361
107 Northern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor......Page 362
108 Southern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor priapus......Page 364
109 Blue Racer, Coluber constrictor foxii......Page 366
110 Everglades Racer, Coluber constrictor paludicola......Page 367
111 Brown-chinned Racer, Coluber constrictor helvigularis......Page 368
112 Black-masked Racer, Coluber constrictor latrunculus......Page 369
113 Buttermilk Racer, Coluber constrictor anthicus......Page 371
114 Tan Racer, Coluber constrictor etheridgei......Page 372
115 Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor flaviventris......Page 374
116 Mexican Racer, Coluber constrictor oaxaca......Page 376
Drymarchon
......Page 378
117 Eastern Indigo Snake, Drymarchon corais couperi......Page 379
118 Texas Indigo Snake, Drymarchon corais erebennus......Page 381
119 Central American Speckled Racer, Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus......Page 384
Hog-Nosed Snakes
......Page 386
120 Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Heterodon platirhinos......Page 387
121 Southern Hog-nosed Snake, Heterodon simus......Page 390
122 Plains Hog-nosed Snake, Heterodon nasicus nasicus......Page 392
123 Dusty Hog-nosed Snake, Heterodon nasicus gloydi......Page 394
124 Mexican Hog-nosed Snake,Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi......Page 396
Pituophis
......Page 398
125 Northern Pine Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus......Page 399
126 Florida Pine Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus......Page 402
127 Black Pine Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi......Page 403
128 Louisiana Pine Snake, Pituophis ruthveni......Page 405
129 Bullsnake, Pituophis catenifer sayi......Page 408
130 Sonoran Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer affinis......Page 411
131 Kansas Glossy Snake, A rizona elegans elegans......Page 413
132 Texas Glossy Snake, A rizona elegans arenicola......Page 415
133 Painted Desert Glossy Snake, Arizona elegans philipi......Page 416
Elaphe
......Page 418
134 Black Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta......Page 419
135 Yellow Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata......Page 423
136 Everglades Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni......Page 425
137 Gray Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta spiloides......Page 426
138 Texas Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta lindheimerii......Page 428
139 Baird's Rat Snake, Elaphe bairdi......Page 430
140 Corn Snake, Elaphe guttata guttata......Page 432
141 Great Plains Rat Snake, Elaphe guttata emoryi......Page 434
142 Eastern Fox Snake, Elaphe gloydi......Page 437
143 Western Fox Snake, Elaphe vulpina......Page 439
Bogertophis
......Page 441
144 Trans-Pecos Rat Snake, Bogertophis subocularis......Page 442
145 Mexican Hook-nosed Snake, Ficimia streckeri......Page 445
146 Western Hook-nosed Snake, Gyalopion canum......Page 447
Lampropeltis
......Page 449
147 Prairie Kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster......Page 450
148 Mole Kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata......Page 452
149 South Florida Mole Kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster occipitolineata......Page 453
150 Eastern Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula getula......Page 454
151 Florida Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula floridana......Page 457
152 Black Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula nigra......Page 460
153 Speckled Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula holbrooki......Page 462
154 Desert Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula splendida......Page 464
155 Eastern Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum......Page 467
156 Scarlet Kingsnake, Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides......Page 469
157 Red Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum syspila......Page 472
158 Louisiana Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum amaura......Page 474
159 Mexican Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum annulata......Page 477
160 New Mexico Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum celaenops......Page 478
161 Central Plains Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis......Page 480
162 Pale Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum multistrata......Page 482
163 Gray-banded Kingsnake, Lampropeltis alterna......Page 484
Cemophora
......Page 488
164 Florida Scarlet Snake, Cemophora coccinea coccinea......Page 489
165 Northern Scarlet Snake, Cemophora coccinea copei......Page 490
166 Texas Scarlet Snake, Cemophora coccinea lineri......Page 492
Rhinocheilus
......Page 494
167 Texas Long-nosed Snake, Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus......Page 495
Hypsiglena
......Page 497
168 Texas Night Snake, Hypsiglena torquata jani......Page 498
Leptodeira
......Page 500
169 Northern Cat-eyed Snake, Leptodeira septentrionalis septentrionalis......Page 501
Coniophanes
......Page 502
170 Black-striped Snake, Coniophanes imperialis imperialis......Page 503
Trimorphodon
......Page 505
171 Texas Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii......Page 506
Micrurus
......Page 509
172 Eastern Coral Snake, Micrurus fulvius fulvius......Page 511
173 Texas Coral Snake, Micrurus fulvius tener......Page 514
Viperidae......Page 517
Agkistrodon
......Page 518
174 Southern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix......Page 519
175 Northern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen......Page 523
176 Osage Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster......Page 526
177 Broad-banded Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus......Page 528
178 Trans-Pecos Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster......Page 530
179 Eastern Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus......Page 532
180 Florida Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti......Page 534
181 Western Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma......Page 537
Rattlesnakes
......Page 540
Sistrurus
......Page 541
182 Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius miliarius......Page 542
183 Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius barbouri......Page 544
184 Western Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius streckeri......Page 546
185 Eastern Massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus......Page 548
186 Western Massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus......Page 550
187 Desert Massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii......Page 552
Crotalus
......Page 554
188 Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus horridus......Page 555
189 Canebrake Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus atricaudatus......Page 559
190 Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus adamanteus......Page 563
191 Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox......Page 567
192 Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus molossus......Page 572
193 Prairie Rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis viridis......Page 574
194 Mojave Rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus......Page 576
195 Mottled Rock Rattlesnake, Crotalus lepidus lepidus......Page 580
196 Banded Rock Rattlesnake, Crotalus lepidus klauberi......Page 582
Glossary
......Page 585
Bibliography
......Page 593
Index
......Page 624
About the Author
......Page 636

Citation preview

NAKE of North America Eastern and Central Regions

of North America Eastern and Central Regions Revised Edition Alan Tennant Contributing Authors Gerard T. Salmon Dr. Richard B. King

Maps by Gerard T. Salmon

Lone Star Books

SNAKES of North America Eastern and Central Regions

Copyright© 2003 by Alan Tennant All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. Published by Lone Star Books A Member of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group 4 5 0 1 Forbes Boulevard, Ste. 200 Lanham, MD 20706 Distributed by National Book Network Library of Congress Control Number: 2002 1 1 3489 ISBN: 1 -5 8907-003-8 (alk. paper) C\TM 'tC::J

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Li brary Materia ls, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992. Manufactured in the United States of America. Book design by Roxann L. Combs. Cover painting by Ed Acuna. To purchase a fine art print of the cover painting, contact Ed Acuna, [email protected] or

(512) 330-0655.

Dedication For the late Jozsef Laszlo, former Curator of Herpetofauna at the San Antonio Zoothe most empathetic guy toward reptiles and amphibians I've known, and the least elitist. Without Joe's enthusiastic encouragement, I 'd never have started this two-decade-long series of books on snakes.

Alan Tennant

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements, xix Preface, xxv Introduction, 1 The Evolution of Snakes, 4 Snake Venom Poisoning, 1 8 Venom Potency Table, 29 Species Accounts::·, 30 Bibliography, 562 Index, 593

SPECIES ACCOUNTS ...............................................................

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TYPHLOPIDAE Blind Snakes, 30 Ramphotyphlops, 30

1 Brahminy Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops braminus

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Slender Blind Snakes, 32 Leptotyphlops, 32

2 Plains Blind Snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis dulcis

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3 New Mexico Blind Snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis dissectus 4 Trans-Pecos Blind Snake, Leptotyphlops humilis segregus

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