Gyalopion
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| Gyalopion | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Gyalopion Cope, 1860 |
| Species | |
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Gyalopion canum |
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Gyalopion is a genus of small nonvenomous colubrid snakes which are commonly referred to as hooknose snakes that are native to the southwest United States and Mexico.
Contents |
[edit] Taxonomy
- Western Hooknose Snake, Gyalopion canum Cope, 1860
- Desert Hooknose Snake, Gyalopion quadrangulare (Günther, 1893)
[edit] Distribution & habitat
- G. canum - United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Michoacán, Jalisco)
- G. quadrangulare - United States (Arizona) and Mexico (Sonora and Sinaloa)
Hooknose snakes prefer shortgrass prairie habitats.
[edit] Description
Their base color is light brown with darker brown crossbands. Their ventral color is white or cream colored. Their most distinguishing feature is an upturned snout, which has a concave scale, as opposed to hognose snakes which have a keeled scale. They rarely grow beyond 10" in length.
[edit] Behaviour
Hooknose snakes are nocturnal and secretive snakes, generally found hiding under rocks, or buried in the soil. Their primary diet consists of spiders and centipedes. They are oviparous.
[edit] References
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