General Description: Shovel-nosed Snakes (Chionactis occipitalis) are small snakes with black and white, or black, white, and orange crossbars. The tip of the nose is white or red, but not black. Bands do not encircle the body. "Swims" under the sand.

Taxonomy: Colubrid Snakes Family (Colubridae).

Technical Description:

Diet: Small bugs.

Habitat: Sandy areas (dunes, washes, flats) with little vegetation.

Range: Southern Nevada, southeastern California, southwestern Arizona, and northern Mexico. The Nevada Shovel-nosed Snake occurs in a small region of southwestern Nevada and southeastern California in Clark, Nye, and Inyo Counties. The Mojave Shovel-nosed Snake ranges more widely, occurring in southern California, the southern tip of Nevada, and western Arizona.

Similar Species: This species resembles a Coral Snake, but note that the tip of the nose on shovel-nosed snakes is not black. In Coral Snakes, black lips bring the kiss of death.