What is a shiny snake?

glossy snake, also known under its scientific name, Arizona elegans , is a non -hazardous snake found in the southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. Although its color may vary depending on his habitat, it has generally shiny standards, a feature that inspired its common name. Generally he lives in a sandy or rocky environment and hunts his prey at night.

In general, an adult glossy snake ranges from three to four feet (91.44 to 121.92 cm). It has a top head that seems small in relation to its length. In addition, its highest jaw protrudes behind the bottom of the mouth. Most shiny snakes are beige or taupe, with white lower sides and dark brown brands run along their heads and their back length. Those who live in very sandy areas tend to have a color that has a look "faded". Aloke snakes have smooth, shiny scale, characteristics that led to their "shiny" designation. Has a tendency to prefer the arid environment, toThey are sandy, rocky or covered with a dry peel. As a night animal, they usually spend the day of sleep in the underground burrows that kicked, emerged in the evening with food hunting.

Typical prey for glossy snake includes lizards, as well as small snakes and mammals. It is not a poison and usually kills his food by strangling it - behavior known as narrowing - or simply swallowing the whole. Given its lack of poison and its relatively small size, it is assumed that the shiny snake does not represent any significant threat to the HU.

Like many snakes, the glossy snake is Oviparous, which means that instead of birth, it puts eggs. During the summer months he usually behaves and his eggs hatch early in the fall. After breeding, most female shiny snakes were between ten and 20 eggs. Due to the predation of animals such as prey birds, carnivorous mammals and larger snakes, it is very likely that at least some of theseThe egg never reaches the hatch point. The newborn snakes generally measure approximately ten inches (22.86 cm) in length.