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Texas Glossy Snake
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- Order: Squamata (scaled reptiles)
- Suborder: Serpentes (snakes)
- Family: Colubridae ("typical" snakes)
- Subfamily: Colubrinae ("typical"
snakes)
- Genus: Arizona (glossy snakes)
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Scientific Name: Arizona elegans
arenicola Dixon, 1960 |
Habitat: Open sandy
areas with cover; areas of creosote bush or mesquite. |
Areo="dry," zona="earth"
(reference to habitat), elegans="elegant," arenicola="inhabitant
of a sandy area"
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Length: Can reach
almost 6 feet. |
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Food: lizards; may also
eat rodents. |
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I, along with two other members
of the South
Texas Herpetology Association, found this snake while road
cruising in south Texas in April 2004, on a less-than-favorable
night (air temperatures were in the 60s, but numerous snakes were
found). |
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This pic attempts to capture the
sheen for which this snake receives its common name.
Personally, I didn't see too much difference in the
"glossiness" of this snake compared to other
species! The colors were very nice, though; an orange stripe
ran all the way down its back. |
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