Heterodon nasicus is found at elevations of 90 to 2400 m. It is found in shortgrass prairie, dry rocky lands, and coastal islands (Johns, 2000). It prefers areas that are for the most part dry and sandy. According to Wright (1957, p. 299) H. nasicus is "Distinctly a prairie species, almost every writer refers it to sandy tracts such as sandy hills, sand dunes, sandy flood plains, sandy prairies, sandy areas, and sandy fine loam." The reason for its preference of sandy areas is that it is a snake that likes to burrow into the soil, mainly to search for food (Wright, 1957; Shaw and Camplbell, 1974).
Range elevation: 90 to 2400 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland
The geographic range of western hognose snakes, Heterodon nasicus, extends from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Its range is bordered to the west by Colorado and Wyoming, and in the east by Illinois.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Heterodon nasicus searchs for its prey, often by using its upturned nose to dig holes in the ground while looking for toads burrowed into the sand. Toads are the main food item of H. nasicus, and can make up nearly 80 percent of its diet in certain regions. When in the mouths of the snakes, toads will swell in order to make themselves too big to swallow. In order to counter this, H. nasicus has its bigger teeth in the back of its mouth, allowing these snakes to puncture the toads if they try to inflate. Another adaption on the snakes' part is an enlarged adrenal gland, which functions in negating the toxins found in the toads' skin. The enlarged adrenal gland can produce enough adrenalin to counteract the digitaloid (which slows down the predator's heart until the point of death) released by the toads as a means of denfense.
Animal Foods: mammals; amphibians; reptiles; eggs
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates)
Heterodon nasicus does play an important role in its ecosystem by keeping toad populations from exploding. It is one of the few species that has the ability to cope with the toads' poison, so it is possible that the removal of this species could in fact alter that particular ecosystem.
Its mild temperament makes H. nasicus an ideal pet snake, because it is extremely docile and rarely bites. Once handled by humans enough, the snakes are calm and there is little or no danger of them biting. This snake has an extremely mild venom, and so does not pose a health risk to humans even if a human manages to get bitten.
In addition to their importance in the pet trade, these snakes help people by controlling toad populations. Without these snakes, the toad population could rise high enough so that the toads would infringe upon human establishments. Domestic animals eating toads might be harmed by their toxins (Allen, 1997).
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; controls pest population
Even though H. nasicus is docile, with venom that is mild, it still has venom that can cause some swelling and discomfort in whomever it bites.
Negative Impacts: injures humans (bites or stings, venomous )
As soon as young western hognose snakes hatch they are fully developed, but just smaller in size at about 14 to 18 centimeters. Within hours the young are fully capable of actively searching out prey.
Heterodon nasicus is not given national status as endangered or threatened. However, because of habitat destruction, the numbers of H. nasicus have declined by a considerable amount in certain regions, and as a result western hognose snakes are listed as threatened or even endangered in some of the states in which they reside. These states include Iowa and Illinois. Numerous human developments have pushed western hognose snakes from their sandy habitat into more wooded areas, where it is ill-equipped for survival. In these states there are programs to help save these snakes' habitats. In the southern states, such as Texas and New Mexico, western hognose snakes are quite common. In these areas there is no shortage of the sandy areas which are optimal for these snakes, so they are able to thrive.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Heterodon nasicus is a species that lives a solitary lifestyle, and the only time that it needs to communicate with other members of its species is during mating season. This communication occurs when the male snakes pick up a chemical scent that the female produces as she sheds her skin, signaling that she is ready for a mate. Males will track the female by the scent.
Some communication occurs with other species. This communication involves visual signals, noises, and sometimes tactile cues. When western hognose snakes encounter a potential predator, they will at first hiss, and flatten their heads and necks to make themselves appear larger. If this fails to ward off the predator, the snake may strike--although it does not bite, apparently, this movement is threatening. If this fails, the snake will feign death in hopes that the predator will lose interest.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones
Perception Channels: visual ; infrared/heat ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Various people have questioned whether or not this snake is actually venomous. However, an article published by Michael A. Morris describes the effects that the bite of H. nasicus had on him. He experienced swelling and tenderness of the bitten are for two days, and came to the conclusion that the snake does have venom with hemotoxic effects (Morris 1985).
Heterodon nasicus has a life expectancy of around fourteen years in the wild. For the most part this is average in comparison to other snake species.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 9 to 19 years.
Typical lifespan
Status: captivity: 15 to 20 years.
In comparison to other snakes, H. nasicus is small to medium in size, with an average length of about 50 centimeters, and a weight between 80 and 350 g. The dorsal side these snakes is grayish brown or a light olive green with approximately 40 dorsal spots that are a darker shade of olive green. ventrum is mainly white, but is black underneath the tail. The head is lighter in color than the body, but is strongly marked with dark brown bands across the top and behind the eyes. Each snake has 23 rows of dorsal scales. Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of H. nasicus is its upturned nose, which is uses for digging and burrowing.
Range mass: 80 to 350 g.
Range length: 36 to 93 cm.
Average length: 50 cm.
Heterodon nasicus has two main anti-predator adaptations, both of whihc are behavioral. The first line of defense for this snake is to make itself appear larger by making its head and neck flatter. This flattening is accompanied by extremely loud hissing and blowing, whihc apparently makes the individual seem enraged and dangerous. If this defense fails to ward off a predator, the snake will shift into phase two of its defense. This begins with the snake spasming uncontrollably, and then rolling over on its back, lying motionless. Western hognose snakes will feign death in order to make a predator lose interest. When an indivudual perceives an absence of danger, it will resume its activities.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: aposematic
These snakes are described as polygamous. Females will breed with more than one male throughout the course of the breeding season to ensure fertilization, but apparently males also will breed with multiple females. When a female sheds her skin, a chemical is released. Males pick up this scent and actively search for the females. If the female is receptive upon discovery the two will copulate.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
The mating season for H. nasicus occurs between the months of June and August, as males actively seek out females to breed with. Females lay from 4 to 23 eggs between June and August. Once the eggs have been fertilized they are buried in the sand and hatch in 52 to 64 days.
Breeding season: Breeding occurs in Spring and Summer.
Range number of offspring: 4 to 23.
Range gestation period: 52 to 64 days.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; sexual ; fertilization ; oviparous
Average number of offspring: 13.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 730 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 730 days.
After having buried its eggs, H. nasicus invests no parental care into its young. This is why it is important that the young are fully developed upon hatching.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female)
When disturbed, H. nasicus will make mock strikes by jerking its body and flatten its head and neck. Its not known to bite but according to Tennant (2003), a man who was bitten on the finger, with the snake having chewed on for several minutes, experienced an anti-coagulant effect, followed by mild swelling and numbness that reached his elbow after several hours. No permanent damage occurred.
Western hognose snake
H. nasicus can reach a maximum size of about 90 cm, averaging between 38 to 64 cm. The dorsal pattern consists of sandy ground colored scales contrasted by more than 35 brown dorsal blotches from the snout to the vent in males and more than 40 in females. The flanks are speckled with brown scales and large spots. Like in other members of its genus, a prominent brown band crosses the eye to the forehead. The ventral scales are coal-black colored with white, yellow or pale orange edges. (Tennan, 2003).
H. nasicus has a more generalized diet than other members of its genus, which prey predominantly on toads. They will consume small mammals, amphibians, lizards and smaller snakes (Tennant, 2003).
Mostly active during the morning and evening, sheltering at night and during cold weather by burrowing into sandy soil, or, when on the surface, submerged in leaf litter (Tennant, 2003).
Short and mixed grass prairies in broken terrain where canyons provide seasonal water, gravelly or sandy soil which allows burrowing, and leaf litter litter or ground cover which provide shelter (Tennant, 2003).
Oviparous
Die Westliche Hakennasennatter (Heterodon nasicus), auch Westliche Hakennatter, ist eine Trugnatter aus der Familie der Nattern (Colubridae), wo sie zur Unterfamilie der Dipsadinae gestellt wird. Ihr Verbreitungsgebiet liegt in Nordamerika und im Norden Mexikos.
Die beiden früheren Unterarten H. n. gloydi und H. n. kennerlyi werden inzwischen innerhalb der Gattung als eigenständige Arten Heterodon gloydi und Heterodon kennerlyi geführt.[1]
Hakennasennattern erreichen im Regelfall eine Körperlänge von 45–60 cm, maximal 90 cm. Es liegt ein ausgeprägter Sexualdimorphismus vor; die Weibchen sind größer und wesentlich schwerer als die männlichen Tiere. Beide Geschlechter erreichen in Gefangenschaft ein Alter von 15 bis 18 Jahren. Ihre Paarungszeit liegt im Frühjahr zwischen März und Mai.
Die Westliche Hakennasennatter ist tagaktiv. Ihren Namen hat sie von ihrem haken- bzw. schnauzenförmig modifiziertem Scutum rostrale, das sie beim Graben unterstützt.
Heterodon nasicus verfügt über hinten gefurchte (opistoglyphe) Giftzähne im hinteren Teil des Oberkiefers. In der Regel geht von dieser Schlange jedoch keine Gefahr für den Menschen aus. Ihr Gift, welches zu den Speichelgiften zählt, müsste über längere Zeit einmassiert werden, um beim Menschen seine Wirkung zu entfalten. Die Giftwirkung ist bei gesunden, erwachsenen Menschen vernachlässigbar, bei Allergikern ist jedoch Vorsicht angebracht. Insgesamt werden Menschen nur äußerst selten gebissen, da die Art keinen Verteidigungsbiss kennt und Bissunfälle daher nur bei Fütterungsversuchen erfolgen. Es wird vermutet, dass das Gift der Hakennasennattern eine neurotoxische Wirkung bei Amphibien besitzt. Die vergrößerten Zähne dienen wahrscheinlich dem "Aufstechen" von Kröten oder Fröschen, die sich zur Verteidigung oft aufblasen. Sie stellen die Hauptbeutetiere dar und der Fressvorgang wird dadurch stark vereinfacht.
Hakennasennattern verfügen über ein beeindruckendes Verteidigungsverhalten. Fühlt sie sich bedroht, spreizt sie zunächst den Hals, der zum Zustoßen s-förmig gebogen wird. Dank des Musters auf ihrem Körper ähnelt sie hierbei einer Unterart der Westlichen Zwergklapperschlange (Sistrurus miliarus streckeri), die im gleichen Verbreitungsgebiet vorkommt (Bates'sche Mimikry). Außerdem werden Scheinangriffe mit geschlossenem Maul durchgeführt. Zeigt sich ein Angreifer davon unbeeindruckt, dreht sie sich auf den Rücken und lässt über ihr Scutum anale eine faulig riechende, milchig weiße Flüssigkeit austreten. Zudem kann sie durch absichtliche Ruptur von kleineren Blutgefäßen aus dem Mund bluten. Durch dieses Totstellen verwirrt sie Raubtiere und stellt sich selbst als ungenießbar dar.
Die Westliche Hakennasennatter (Heterodon nasicus), auch Westliche Hakennatter, ist eine Trugnatter aus der Familie der Nattern (Colubridae), wo sie zur Unterfamilie der Dipsadinae gestellt wird. Ihr Verbreitungsgebiet liegt in Nordamerika und im Norden Mexikos.
Die beiden früheren Unterarten H. n. gloydi und H. n. kennerlyi werden inzwischen innerhalb der Gattung als eigenständige Arten Heterodon gloydi und Heterodon kennerlyi geführt.
The western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) is a species[2] of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.
The specific name, nasicus, is from the Latin nasus ("nose"), in reference to the upturned snout.[3]
The subspecific name, gloydi, is in honor of American herpetologist Howard K. Gloyd (1902–1978).[4]
The subspecific (or specific) name, kennerlyi, is in honor of American naturalist Caleb Burwell Rowan Kennerly.[4]
Common names for Heterodon nasicus include blow snake, bluffer, faux viper, plains hognose snake, prairie hognose snake, spoonbill snake, spreadhead snake, Texas hognose snake, Texas rooter, and western hognose snake.
Some authors elevate H. n. kennerlyi, also known as the Mexican hognose snake, to species level. Those same authors have subsumed H. n. gloydi into H. nasicus so that there are only two species (H. nasicus and H. kennerlyi) and no subspecies.
The western hognose snake is a relatively small, stout-bodied snake. Its color and pattern is highly variable between subspecies, although most specimens appear much like rattlesnakes to the untrained eye, which appears to be Batesian mimicry. Males are considerably smaller than females, with adults rarely exceeding a total length (including tail) of 40–50 cm (15–20 inches). This snake gets its common name, "hognose", from the modified rostral (nose) scale that is formed in an upturned manner, providing a very "hog-like" look. Additionally, this adaptation makes these snakes adept burrowers.[5]
The species is not dangerous to humans, but there exists scientific debate regarding whether the mild toxins in the hognose's bite result from saliva, harmful to its preferred wild food source – toads – or an extremely mild venom produced in glands connecting to the hognose's minuscule rear fangs. In either case, no deaths or systemic effects from the extremely rare bite from this rear-fanged snake have been recorded.[6] Although bites may uncommonly be medically significant, the species is not regarded as venomous.[2]
In captivity, the species has been bred into about 52 different "designer" color morphs.[7]
The western hognose snake occurs from southern Canada throughout the United States to northern Mexico. It frequents areas with sandy or gravelly soils, including prairies, river floodplains, scrub and grasslands, semi-deserts, and some semiagricultural areas.[1] It has been found at elevations of up to 2,500 m (8,200 feet).[6]
The western hognose snake is primarily diurnal. It is typically a docile snake (though known to be highly defensive in some individuals). If threatened (or perceiving a threat), it may flatten its neck (much like a cobra), hiss, and make 'mock' or 'bluff' strikes if harassed, which are strikes made at an intruder but with the snakes' mouth closed. Subsequently, even when further harassed, western hognose snakes virtually never bite as a self defense mechanism, but will instead usually resort to playing dead.[8][9] Although it is more common that it will flatten its head, some individuals may puff up, filling the throat with air. This is more common with adolescent males.
In the wild, the western hognose snake feeds predominately on amphibians, such as large and medium-sized tree frogs, as well as small or medium-sized toads and small lizards. There have been accounts of H. nasicus eating the occasional rodent in the wild as well. Not being a true constrictor, Heterodon bites and chews, driving the rear fangs into the prey as a way of introducing the saliva to help break down the toxins from toads. There have been many cases of hognose snakes in captivity that will not eat for about two to three-and-a-half months, from the months January to mid March. This is because hognose snakes' instinct is to brumate underground during the winter months.
Adult western hognose snakes have been observed in copulation as early as February and March. The species is oviparous, with females laying 4–23 elongate, thin-shelled eggs in June–August. The eggs take approximately 60 days to hatch. Each hatchling is 13–23 cm (5–9 in) in total length, and reaches sexual maturity after approximately two years (this is predominantly based on size, not so much age).[10]
Although some local declines have been reported, the species H. nasicus is widespread, has a large overall population size (> 100,000), and is effectively protected by a variety of conservation programs. It is therefore currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. The eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is classified as a threatened species in some regions of its range and is therefore protected under those states' laws.[1]
The western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.
La serpiente de hocico de cerdo occidental (Heterodon nasicus) es una especie de reptil inofensivo de la familia Colubridae. Habita desde el sureste de Alberta y el noroeste de Manitoba en Canadá, hacia el sur hasta en el norte de México. Además de poblaciones disjuntas en Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri y Arkansas. Presenta dos subespecies.[1]
Los adultos miden entre cuarenta y noventa centímetros de longitud. Los machos son considerablemente más pequeños que las hembras. Se encuentran registros de un metro con un centímetro. El color dorsal puede ser marrón claro, pardo-grisáceo o gris-amarillento. Presenta una hilera dorsal de manchas marrón oscuro. Sobre los laterales presenta una hilera de manchas pequeña. La región ventral presentan gruesas manchas negras dispuestas irregularmente. La cabeza es ancha y corta, con grandes ojos dotados de pupila redonda, y un hocico puntiagudo y curvado hacia arriba. El cuerpo es macizo y está cubierto superiormente por escamas carenadas en veintitrés hileras a la altura media del cuerpo. La escama cloacal está dividida.
Vive entre las zonas áridas y las sabanas de las regiones subtropicales de clima seco, con vegetación pobre, herbácea y arbustiva, con el suelo a menudo rocoso hasta los dos mil cuatrocientos metros sobre el nivel del mar. No es veloz ni ágil.[2]
Con su hocico respingado es muy hábil excavando largas galerías y madrigueras para refugiarse tanto de sus predadores como del calor del sol. El sentido de olfato le permite encontrar sapos enterrados, lagartos, serpientes, y huevos de reptiles; también come pájaros y roedores pequeños.
Es principalmente diurna. Se aparea de marzo a mayo. Coloca de cuatro a veintitrés huevos alargados y delgados de unos treinta y dos milímetros de largo. La puesta la realiza en el suelo arenoso entre los meses de junio y agosto. Después de siete a nueve semanas de incubación, nacen las crías de entre quince y diecinueve centímetros de largo. Vive aproximadamente ocho años.
A pesar de que esta serpiente no causa daño a los seres humanos, las personas son la mayor amenaza de la serpiente. Las personas a menudo, la confunden con una víbora de cascabel, matándolas para protegerse. Es importante educar a la gente enseñándoles que esta serpiente es inonfensiva, lo que aumentará la supervivencia de la especie. Además, son una de las serpientes dotadas con colmillos posteriores (Opistoglifas) más comercializadas y popularmente mantenidas en muchos hogares de todo el mundo como mascotas, la facilidad de su mantenimiento unida a la extraña forma de su hocico que le otorga una belleza peculiar han hecho de ellas un animal muy popular.
Solo están reconocidas 2 subespecies. La subespecie Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi (KENNICOTT, 1860) subió de estatus.[2]
Datos: Q1441196
Multimedia:
Especies: Heterodon nasicus
La serpiente de hocico de cerdo occidental (Heterodon nasicus) es una especie de reptil inofensivo de la familia Colubridae. Habita desde el sureste de Alberta y el noroeste de Manitoba en Canadá, hacia el sur hasta en el norte de México. Además de poblaciones disjuntas en Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri y Arkansas. Presenta dos subespecies.
Heterodon nasicus Heterodon generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Dipsadidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Heterodon nasicus Heterodon generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Dipsadidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Heterodon nasicus, la Couleuvre à nez retroussé[1], est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Dipsadidae[2] vivant en Amérique centrale et en Amérique du Nord.
Cette espèce se rencontre[2] :
Ce serpent ovipare est brun-sable, avec des taches sombres, bien qu'il existe des variations importantes entre les différentes sous-espèces. Il atteint de 40 à 80 centimètres, les femelles étant en général plus grandes.
C'est un reptile diurne qui se nourrit de rongeurs, lézards et surtout d'amphibiens. La reproduction a lieu au printemps, et les femelles pondent de 4 à 23 œufs dans le courant de l'été, qui éclosent environ deux mois plus tard. Les petits mesurent de 15 à 20 cm à la naissance, et atteignent leur maturité sexuelle vers 2 ans.
C'est un serpent Opisthodonte cela signifie qu'il possède des crochets non canulés dans la partie postérieure de la mâchoire, son venin se mélange avec sa salive. De ce fait, il est rare de se faire envenimer par un tel serpent.
En cas de danger il fait le mort en saignant des gencives.
Les sous-espèces Heterodon nasicus gloydi[3] et Heterodon nasicus kennerlyi[4] ont été élevées au rang d'espèce.
Heterodon nasicus, la Couleuvre à nez retroussé, est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Dipsadidae vivant en Amérique centrale et en Amérique du Nord.
Heterodon nasicus Baird & Girard, 1852, comunemente conosciuto come serpente muso di porco occidentale o muso di porco delle pianure, è un innocuo serpente appartenente alla famiglia Dipsadidae, distribuito nell'America del Nord e nel nord del Messico.[2]
Il muso rivolto verso l'alto del serpente muso di porcello occidentale separa questa specie dalla maggior parte degli altri serpenti nord americani. Il corpo è tozzo e grigio pallido, lungo da 40 a 80 cm con numerose righe di macchie squadrate marroni o grigie lungo il dorso. Le grandi macchie nere sul ventre sono assenti negli altri serpenti muso di porcello. Distribuzione: Canada meridionale, USA centrali e Messico nord-orientale. Nelle aree sabbiose e nelle praterie.
Il veleno di Heterodon nasicus non è attivo sull'uomo, quindi, escludendo un eventuale shock anafilattico, il loro morso può provocare un lieve rigonfiamento e un intorpidimento locale. Inoltre, essendo opistoglifi, è molto difficile che tale tossina entri in circolo dopo un morso, proprio perché i denti veleniferi si trovano in fondo alla mandibola.
La maturità sessuale viene raggiunta in due anni circa. Dopo l'accoppiamento, le femmine depongono da 4 a 20-25 uova massimo, preferendo il suolo sabbioso per la deposizione. Trascorsi 2 mesi circa, avviene la schiusa dove i piccoli misureranno 15–20 cm circa.
Heterodon nasicus è un colubroide originario del Nord America, diffuso dal Canada meridionale fino al Texas, in un'area che si estende dall'Iowa ad est e il Wyoming ad ovest.
Questo serpente abita generalmente le pianure e le zone rocciose/semiaride tipiche dell'America settentrionale. Una curiosità: se viene attaccato simula la morte, e può emettere odore cadaverico.
Heterodon nasicus Baird & Girard, 1852, comunemente conosciuto come serpente muso di porco occidentale o muso di porco delle pianure, è un innocuo serpente appartenente alla famiglia Dipsadidae, distribuito nell'America del Nord e nel nord del Messico.
Heterodon zachodni (Heterodon nasicus) – gatunek węża z rodziny połozowatych.
Długość ciała samca wynosi 60-65 cm, natomiast samicy 75-80 cm. Krępe ciało ze słabo wyodrębnioną głową. Umaszczenie jasnobrązowe, szare lub żółtoszare, z brązowymi plamami na grzbiecie. Okrągłe źrenice. Charakterystyczny trójkątny wyrostek z przodu pyska.
Najbardziej aktywny rano i późnym popołudniem. Żywi się płazami, jaszczurkami i innymi wężami. W razie zagrożenia potrafi udawać martwego. Na wolności żyje zwykle do 10 lat, w niewoli do 15. Warunkowo jadowity.
Heterodon zachodni (Heterodon nasicus) – gatunek węża z rodziny połozowatych.
Heterodon nasicus là một loài rắn trong họ Rắn nước. Loài này được Baird & Girard mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1852.[1]
Bài viết liên quan họ Rắn nước này vẫn còn sơ khai. Bạn có thể giúp Wikipedia bằng cách mở rộng nội dung để bài được hoàn chỉnh hơn. Heterodon nasicus là một loài rắn trong họ Rắn nước. Loài này được Baird & Girard mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1852.
分類 界 : 動物界 Animalia 門 : 脊索動物門 Chordata 亜門 : 脊椎動物亜門 Vertebrata 綱 : 爬虫綱 Reptilia 目 : 有鱗目 Squamata 亜目 : ヘビ亜目 Serpentes 科 : マイマイヘビ科 Dipsadidae 属 : シシバナヘビ属 Heterodon 種 : セイブシシバナヘビセイブシシバナヘビ（西部猪鼻蛇、Heterodon nasicus）は、マイマイヘビ科シシバナヘビ属に分類されるヘビ。
アメリカ合衆国（アリゾナ州南東部、テキサス州南部、ニューメキシコ州南西部）、メキシコ北部
アメリカ合衆国（テキサス州東部）
模式標本（ネオタイプ）の産地（模式産地）はテキサス州。
アメリカ合衆国（アイオワ州の一部、イリノイ州の一部、ウィスコンシン州西部、オクラホマ州、カンザス州、コロラド州、サウスダコタ州、テキサス州西部、ニューメキシコ州東部、ネブラスカ州、ノースダコタ州、ミズーリ州の一部、ミネソタ州の一部、モンタナ州東部、ワイオミング州東部）、カナダ（アルバータ州南東部、サスカチュワン州南部、マニトバ州南部）
全長は38-60cm。最大全長154cm。オスよりもメスの方が大型になり、オスは最大でも全長66cm。体形は太い。胴体中央部の斜めに列になった背面の鱗の数（体列鱗数）は23。総排出口までの腹面にある幅の広い鱗の数（腹板数）はオス129-147、メス139-156。腹面の総排出口から後部の鱗の数（尾下板数）はオス35-50、メス26-41。体色は淡褐色で、褐色の斑紋が正中線と側面に沿って並ぶ。腹面の鱗（腹板）は黒く、不規則に黄色い斑紋が入る。
吻端板は幅広く左右の眼の間隔と同じくらいあり、シシバナヘビ属内では最も反りあがる。
吻端板と前額板の間には対にならない小型の鱗が2-6枚入る。
胴体背面の斑紋の数がオス32未満、メス37未満。
胴体背面の斑紋の数が35以上。吻端板と前額板の間には対にならない小型の鱗が9-28枚入る。
唾液に獲物を痺れさせる毒がある。
亜種ダスティーシシバナヘビを基亜種のシノニムとする説もある。逆に3亜種全てを独立種とする説もある。
基底が砂地の草原や半砂漠地帯に生息する。薄明薄暮時に活動する。
食性は動物食で、小型両生類、小型爬虫類、小型の鳥類、小型哺乳類、動物の死骸等を食べる。属内でも食性が幅広い。
繁殖形態は卵生。3-5月に交尾し、6-8月に1回に4-23個の卵を産む。卵は40-60日程で孵化する。オスは1-2年、メスは2-3年で性成熟する。
ペットとして飼育されることもあり、日本にも輸入されている。主に基亜種の飼育下繁殖個体が流通する。高価だが、品種も作出されている。しかし品種作出のために別亜種を交配することもあり、単に本種の名前または基亜種の名前で流通している個体の中には亜種間雑種が含まれているとされる。
ケージは脱走されないような物を用いる。床材としてウッドチップやウッドシェイブ、メンテナンス性を重視するならキッチンペーパー等を用いるがこまめに交換するようにする。
多くの個体は初めからマウスに餌付いていることが多い。しかし稀に流通する野生個体や、飼育者自身が飼育下繁殖を成功させて産まれた幼蛇の場合はカエルしか食べないこともある。初めはカエルしか食べない個体でもカエルにピンクマウスの皮や汁をつけて与え、それを食べるようならピンクマウスにカエルの粘膜や皮をつけて与える等の段階を経てマウスに餌付けることはできる。
唾液には毒があるが、人に対して威嚇等で噛みついてくることはない。しかし給餌中に餌と間違えて噛みつくことがあるため注意が必要。長時間噛まれた際に患部が腫れあがった例があるため、長めのピンセットを用いたり夜間に置き餌をする等してなるべく給餌中の接触は避ける。
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