Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Sonora semiannulata
Sonoran Ground Snake

Val Verde Co., Texas. May 23, 1997

What a surprise to flip over a small flat rock and find this snake!  The rock was out in the open, and one would expect the little snake to cook under the rock at midday.  The answer - a hole under the rock, leading to some deep burrow, and excavated by who knows what. The snake was grabbed for photos before it could retreat into its hole.

Sonora comes in many colors from brown to orange, and can be banded, striped, diamond-backed, or none of the above.  They prey on spiders, scorpions and other small invertebrates.