Sonoran lyresnake

Description:

A medium-sized (up to 40"), gray snake with dark reddish brown, irregular, football-shaped blotches on the back. These blotches have hollow, pale, gray centers and are outlined with pale gray lines. A prominent lyre-shaped marking adorns the top of the somewhat triangular head. The pupils are vertical. Primarily nocturnal, though it can be found resting in rock fissures during the day. Lizards and bats are frequent prey, but rodents and birds are also taken. Although this species rapidly subdues lizards by envenomating them with grooved rear teeth, its venom does not appear to be much more than an irritant for humans. (from "A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona")

Habitat:

Open desert

Notes:

I was fortunate to photograph this animal. I saw it crossing the road while we were road cruising and stopped to look at it. Since I did not have an AZ hunting permit, I wasn't about to pick it up, mostly because an AZ Game & Fish warden had also rolled up. Luckily, another herper coming in the other direction had stopped and he picked it up while the game warden checked his permit.