Western patch-nosed snake (Salvadora hexalepis)
The western patch-nosed snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 1,628 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 6 states, most of all Arizona (835), California (613) and Nevada (133). Its observation records peak in April.
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Salvadora hexalepis, the western patch-nosed snake, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake, which is endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
From Wikipedia: Salvadora hexalepis, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the western patch-nosed snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The western patch-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 western patch-nosed snake?
The western patch-nosed snake's U.S. record is concentrated: Arizona alone holds 51% of licensed records. It is listed in 6 states in all; the next are California (613), Nevada (133) and New Mexico (29).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 835 | 4.0% | 6th of 60 |
| 2 | California | 613 | 0.8% | 22nd of 46 |
| 3 | Nevada | 133 | 3.3% | 9th of 27 |
| 4 | New Mexico | 29 | 0.4% | 32nd of 56 |
| 5 | Utah | 12 | 0.4% | 21st of 28 |
| 6 | Texas | 5 | 0.0% | 86th of 86 |
When is the western patch-nosed snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the western patch-nosed snake run mostly March through October, peaking in April with 32% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of them.
Season by state
The main season starts in the same month, March, in all 2 states whose main season falls within one calendar year. The most common peak month is April, shared by Arizona and California.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | March through October | April | 111 |
| Arizona | March through November | April | 39 |
Where the western patch-nosed snake is recorded in each state
Arizona
Arizona holds 835 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 60 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Arizona run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Pima County, Cochise County and Maricopa County. Next come Pinal County (66) and Santa Cruz County (54).
California
California holds 613 licensed records, the 22nd most recorded of 46 snakes listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from San Diego County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County. Next come Inyo County (52) and Los Angeles County (42).
Nevada
Nevada holds 133 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nevada come from Clark County, Nye County and Washoe County. Next come Mineral County (7) and Lyon County (6).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pima County | Arizona | 293 | 18.0% |
| 2 | San Diego County | California | 166 | 10.2% |
| 3 | San Bernardino County | California | 157 | 9.6% |
| 4 | Cochise County | Arizona | 111 | 6.8% |
| 5 | Maricopa County | Arizona | 110 | 6.8% |
| 6 | Riverside County | California | 108 | 6.6% |
| 7 | Pinal County | Arizona | 66 | 4.1% |
| 8 | Clark County | Nevada | 63 | 3.9% |
| 9 | Santa Cruz County | Arizona | 54 | 3.3% |
| 10 | Yavapai County | Arizona | 52 | 3.2% |
| 11 | Inyo County | California | 52 | 3.2% |
| 12 | Los Angeles County | California | 42 | 2.6% |
| 13 | Nye County | Nevada | 36 | 2.2% |
| 14 | Graham County | Arizona | 27 | 1.7% |
| 15 | La Paz County | Arizona | 26 | 1.6% |
How recent are the western patch-nosed snake records?
The western patch-nosed snake record leans on older material: only 14% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1968. The oldest dated record is from 1861; the busiest year was 1966, with 42 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1870s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1880s | 4 | 0.3% |
| 1890s | 5 | 0.4% |
| 1900s | 8 | 0.7% |
| 1910s | 15 | 1.3% |
| 1920s | 35 | 3.1% |
| 1930s | 90 | 7.9% |
| 1940s | 90 | 7.9% |
| 1950s | 130 | 11.4% |
| 1960s | 210 | 18.4% |
| 1970s | 139 | 12.2% |
| 1980s | 63 | 5.5% |
| 1990s | 69 | 6.0% |
| 2000s | 68 | 5.9% |
| 2010s | 90 | 7.9% |
| 2020s | 125 | 10.9% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 33 counties where the western patch-nosed snake is most recorded, 33 are also top counties for the gopher snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the sidewinder.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Gopher snake | 33 |
| California kingsnake | 32 |
| Coachwhip | 29 |
| Long-nosed snake | 29 |
| Glossy snake | 26 |
| Western ground snake | 26 |
| Desert nightsnake | 23 |
| Sidewinder venomous | 23 |
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.