Spotted leaf-nosed snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus)
The spotted leaf-nosed snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 1,804 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 3 states, most of all California (1,276), Arizona (365) and Nevada (163). Its observation records peak in May.
Phyllorhynchus decurtatus, the spotted leafnose snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The snake is found in the United States and Mexico.
From Wikipedia: Phyllorhynchus decurtatus, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the spotted leaf-nosed snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The spotted leaf-nosed snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the spotted leaf-nosed snake?
The spotted leaf-nosed snake's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 71% of licensed records. It is listed in 3 states in all; the next are Arizona (365) and Nevada (163).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,276 | 1.7% | 13th of 46 |
| 2 | Arizona | 365 | 1.8% | 18th of 60 |
| 3 | Nevada | 163 | 4.0% | 7th of 27 |
When is the spotted leaf-nosed snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the spotted leaf-nosed snake run mostly February through August, peaking in May with 38% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 4% of them.
Where the spotted leaf-nosed snake is recorded in each state
California
California holds 1,276 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 46 snakes listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly February through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County. Next come Imperial County (104) and Inyo County (57).
Arizona
Arizona holds 365 licensed records, the 18th most recorded of 60 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Arizona come from Pima County, Maricopa County and Yuma County. Next come Pinal County (22) and Mohave County (22).
Nevada
Nevada holds 163 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nevada come from Nye County and Clark County.
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego County | California | 568 | 31.5% |
| 2 | Riverside County | California | 313 | 17.4% |
| 3 | San Bernardino County | California | 208 | 11.5% |
| 4 | Pima County | Arizona | 160 | 8.9% |
| 5 | Imperial County | California | 104 | 5.8% |
| 6 | Maricopa County | Arizona | 91 | 5.0% |
| 7 | Nye County | Nevada | 86 | 4.8% |
| 8 | Clark County | Nevada | 77 | 4.3% |
| 9 | Inyo County | California | 57 | 3.2% |
| 10 | Yuma County | Arizona | 34 | 1.9% |
| 11 | Kern County | California | 24 | 1.3% |
| 12 | Pinal County | Arizona | 22 | 1.2% |
| 13 | Mohave County | Arizona | 22 | 1.2% |
| 14 | Yavapai County | Arizona | 18 | 1.0% |
| 15 | La Paz County | Arizona | 17 | 0.9% |
How recent are the spotted leaf-nosed snake records?
The spotted leaf-nosed snake record leans on older material: only 3% of dated U.S. records come from 2016–2025, and the median record is from 1961. The oldest dated record is from 1920; the busiest year was 1966, with 120 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 12 | 0.8% |
| 1930s | 269 | 17.4% |
| 1940s | 187 | 12.1% |
| 1950s | 250 | 16.1% |
| 1960s | 344 | 22.2% |
| 1970s | 162 | 10.5% |
| 1980s | 125 | 8.1% |
| 1990s | 56 | 3.6% |
| 2000s | 48 | 3.1% |
| 2010s | 84 | 5.4% |
| 2020s | 13 | 0.8% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 18 counties where the spotted leaf-nosed snake is most recorded, 18 are also top counties for each of the first five snakes in the table below; no other snake shares more. Venomous species among its neighbors: the sidewinder.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| California kingsnake | 18 |
| Coachwhip | 18 |
| Glossy snake | 18 |
| Gopher snake | 18 |
| Long-nosed snake | 18 |
| Sidewinder venomous | 17 |
| Western patch-nosed snake | 17 |
| Western ground snake | 16 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.