The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: Gray, tan, or cream base color, sometimes with a pinkish hue. Brown blotches along the dorsal and sides, and a dark bar from the back of the eye to the back of the mouth. This snake has an enlarged, thick rostral (nose) scale used for digging. It has smooth scales and vertical pupils. 

Size: A small-sized snake averaging 12 to 18 inches in length. 

Range and Habitat: Currently, there are only three documented specimens in Utah, with only one being found alive. This snake is suspected to range in the southwestern portion of Washington County in Mojave desertscrub and creosote bush-dominated basins below 3,500 feet in elevation. However, with so few records, the extent of its range is not entirely known. 

Similar Species: The Mojave Patch-nosed Snake has an enlarged rostral scale but is striped.