Trimorphodon biscutatus
| Western Lyre Snake | |
|---|---|
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| Texas Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Trimorphodon |
| Species: | T. biscutatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Trimorphodon biscutatus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) | |
The Western Lyre Snake (Trimorphodon biscutatus) is a mildly venomous colubrid snake native to the western United States, northern Mexico, and Central America.
Description
They are a moderately sized snake, attaining lengths of approximately 1 meter at adult size. They are generally a brown, tan or grey in color with dark brown blotching down the back. They have large eyes with vertical pupils.
Behavior
They are nocturnal and secretive, spending most of their time in rock crevices, and other areas difficult for potential predators to access. Their diet consists of lizards, small rodents, frogs, and bats. Their venom is not considered to be harmful to humans.
Geographic range
Western lyre snakes are found in the United States from the western Texas, across the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona to California, and north into southern Nevada. In Mexico they are found primarily in the Baja California and Chihuahua regions. The most recently identified subspecies of western lyre snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus quadruplex is found throughout Central America.
Subspecies
- Western Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus biscutatus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854)
- Sonoran Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda Cope, 1886
- Baja California Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes (Cope, 1860)
- Trimorphodon biscutatus quadruplex Smith, 1941
- Texas Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii Cope, 1886
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References
- Species Trimorphodon biscutatus at The Reptile Database