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 iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
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
Jurisdictions with rules for Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake
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.
Is Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake regulated for fishing?
Yes — Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — 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.