Species profile
Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake
Phyllorhynchus decurtatus
Identify Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app.
At a glance
Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 827 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Arizona, and Nevada the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Rarely grows longer than 20 inches, making it one of North America's smallest snakes.
- Its enlarged, leaf-shaped rostral scale is adapted to burrow into loose desert sand.
- Active mainly at night, it hunts almost exclusively lizard eggs.
- Found only in the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico.
- Despite small rear fangs, it poses no significant venom risk to humans.
Where Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake are seen
Background
Phyllorhynchus decurtatus, the spotted leafnose snake, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake?
Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake?
Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake is Phyllorhynchus decurtatus.
Are there fishing rules for Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake?
Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.