Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Rank Subspecies | Phylum Chordata Higher classification Night snake | |
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Similar Hypsiglena, Night snake, Snake, Reptile, Scaled reptiles | ||
Hypsiglena jani, commonly known as the Texas night snake, is a species of small colubrid native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico.
Contents
Etymology
The epithet, jani, is in honor of Italian taxonomist Giorgio Jan.
Description
The Texas night snake grows from 10 to 16 inches (25 to 41 centimetres) in total length, record 20 inches (51 cm). It is typically a light gray or tan in color, with dark brown or dark gray blotching down the back and an unmarked underside. They have smooth dorsal scales, eyes with vertically elliptical pupils, are rear-fanged, and are considered to be venomous, though they are not dangerous to humans.
Behavior
As their common name implies, they are a primarily nocturnal snake.
Diet
Their diet consists of primarily lizards, but they will also eat smaller snakes and occasionally soft bodied insects.
Habitat
They prefer semi-arid habitats with rocky soils.
Reproduction
They are an oviparous species that breeds in the spring rainy season, laying 4-6 eggs that take approximately 8 weeks to incubate before hatching. The eggs average 27 mm (1.1 in) long by 10 mm (3⁄8 in) wide. The hatchlings are about 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length.
Geographic range
The Texas night snake ranges from southern Kansas to southern Colorado, and south throughout New Mexico, the western half of Texas to central Mexico.