LONGNOSE SNAKE

Photo by Greg Sievert
Used by permission

Federal Status:
None

State Status:
Threatened

• Range:
  Dark Blue = Counties with designated critical habitat
  Light Blue = Historical records
• Comments: The somewhat pointed and upwardly tilted nose gives the longnose snake its name. It is distinctly speckled and marked with black, white and red bands. Unlike most of our nonvenomous snakes that have a double row of scales under the tail, the longnose snake has a single row. It is adept at burrowing in loose, sandy soil where it hunts for lizards, lizard eggs, small snakes and rodents. When disturbed it might coil, vibrate its tail and even defecate feces and blood as a defensive behavior. It is a nocturnal snake and seldom seen. Due to its secretive nature, researchers have searched hawk nests for its remains as an indicator of its presence. The most likely habitat is in the dry, rocky, open prairie of southwest and southcentral Kansas.
• Read more about this species in The Snake's Burrow!

Other Reptiles on the Kansas T&E List