Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake (Chionactis annulata)
The Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 449 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 2 states, most of all California (226) and Arizona (223). Its observation records peak in April.
Is the Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake?
The Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 50% of licensed records. It is listed in 2 states in all; the next are Arizona (223).
The count includes 59 records filed under the older name Sonora annulata in Arizona (22) and California (37).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 226 | 0.3% | 29th of 46 |
| 2 | Arizona | 223 | 1.1% | 25th of 60 |
When is the Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake run mostly April through August, peaking in April with 29% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 2% of them.
Where the Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake is recorded in each state
California
California holds 226 licensed records, the 29th most recorded of 46 snakes listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly April through August, peaking in April; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Imperial County and Riverside County. Next come San Bernardino County (4).
Arizona
Arizona holds 223 licensed records, the 25th most recorded of 60 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Arizona come from Yuma County, Maricopa County and Pima County. Next come Pinal County (37) and La Paz County (16).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego County | California | 165 | 36.7% |
| 2 | Yuma County | Arizona | 78 | 17.4% |
| 3 | Imperial County | California | 51 | 11.4% |
| 4 | Maricopa County | Arizona | 48 | 10.7% |
| 5 | Pima County | Arizona | 41 | 9.1% |
| 6 | Pinal County | Arizona | 37 | 8.2% |
| 7 | La Paz County | Arizona | 16 | 3.6% |
| 8 | Riverside County | California | 6 | 1.3% |
| 9 | San Bernardino County | California | 4 | 0.9% |
| 10 | Yavapai County | Arizona | 1 | 0.2% |
| 11 | Coconino County | Arizona | 1 | 0.2% |
| 12 | Mohave County | Arizona | 1 | 0.2% |
How recent are the Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake records?
The Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake record leans on older material: only 10% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1981. The oldest dated record is from 1909; the busiest year was 1998, with 37 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 1 | 0.4% |
| 1910s | 4 | 1.4% |
| 1920s | 12 | 4.3% |
| 1930s | 1 | 0.4% |
| 1940s | 34 | 12.2% |
| 1950s | 57 | 20.5% |
| 1960s | 16 | 5.8% |
| 1970s | 13 | 4.7% |
| 1980s | 20 | 7.2% |
| 1990s | 52 | 18.7% |
| 2000s | 6 | 2.2% |
| 2010s | 48 | 17.3% |
| 2020s | 14 | 5.0% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 12 counties where the Colorado desert shovel-nosed snake is most recorded, 12 are also top counties for each of the eight snakes in the table below; no other snake shares more. Venomous species among its neighbors: the sidewinder and the southwestern speckled rattlesnake.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| California kingsnake | 12 |
| Glossy snake | 12 |
| Gopher snake | 12 |
| Long-nosed snake | 12 |
| Sidewinder venomous | 12 |
| Southwestern speckled rattlesnake venomous | 12 |
| Western patch-nosed snake | 12 |
| Western threadsnake | 12 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.