Eastern patch-nosed snake (Salvadora grahamiae)
The eastern patch-nosed snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 577 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 3 states, most of all Texas (349), Arizona (143) and New Mexico (77). Its observation records peak in May.
Salvadora grahamiae, also known commonly as the eastern patch-nosed snake and the mountain patchnose snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico.
From Wikipedia: Salvadora grahamiae, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the eastern patch-nosed snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The eastern patch-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 eastern patch-nosed snake?
The eastern patch-nosed snake's U.S. record is concentrated: Texas alone holds 60% of licensed records. It is listed in 3 states in all; the next are Arizona (143) and New Mexico (77).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 349 | 0.9% | 33rd of 86 |
| 2 | Arizona | 143 | 0.7% | 33rd of 60 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 77 | 1.2% | 15th of 56 |
When is the eastern patch-nosed snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the eastern patch-nosed snake run mostly February through October, peaking in May with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 6% of them.
Where the eastern patch-nosed snake is recorded in each state
Texas
Texas holds 349 licensed records, the 33rd most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Texas come from Travis County, Jeff Davis County and Brewster County. Next come Terrell County (15) and Val Verde County (15).
Arizona
Arizona holds 143 licensed records, the 33rd most recorded of 60 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Arizona come from Cochise County, Santa Cruz County and Pima County. Next come Graham County (6) and Gila County (5).
New Mexico
New Mexico holds 77 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 56 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in New Mexico come from Grant County, Eddy County and Catron County. Next come Hidalgo County (7) and Doña Ana County (6).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cochise County | Arizona | 61 | 10.6% |
| 2 | Santa Cruz County | Arizona | 38 | 6.6% |
| 3 | Travis County | Texas | 32 | 5.5% |
| 4 | Pima County | Arizona | 29 | 5.0% |
| 5 | Jeff Davis County | Texas | 28 | 4.9% |
| 6 | Brewster County | Texas | 27 | 4.7% |
| 7 | Grant County | New Mexico | 15 | 2.6% |
| 8 | Eddy County | New Mexico | 15 | 2.6% |
| 9 | Terrell County | Texas | 15 | 2.6% |
| 10 | Val Verde County | Texas | 15 | 2.6% |
| 11 | Bexar County | Texas | 13 | 2.3% |
| 12 | Hudspeth County | Texas | 12 | 2.1% |
| 13 | Culberson County | Texas | 12 | 2.1% |
| 14 | Presidio County | Texas | 10 | 1.7% |
| 15 | Burnet County | Texas | 10 | 1.7% |
How recent are the eastern patch-nosed snake records?
The eastern patch-nosed snake record leans on older material: only 14% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1986. The oldest dated record is from 1879; the busiest year was 1999, with 15 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 1880s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 1890s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 1900s | 3 | 0.6% |
| 1910s | 6 | 1.2% |
| 1920s | 7 | 1.4% |
| 1930s | 14 | 2.9% |
| 1940s | 25 | 5.1% |
| 1950s | 55 | 11.3% |
| 1960s | 57 | 11.7% |
| 1970s | 49 | 10.1% |
| 1980s | 40 | 8.2% |
| 1990s | 48 | 9.9% |
| 2000s | 52 | 10.7% |
| 2010s | 75 | 15.4% |
| 2020s | 49 | 10.1% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 36 counties where the eastern patch-nosed snake is most recorded, 33 are also top counties for the gopher snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the western diamondback rattlesnake and the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Gopher snake | 33 |
| Striped whipsnake | 27 |
| Blackneck garter snake | 25 |
| Coachwhip | 24 |
| Long-nosed snake | 24 |
| Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous | 23 |
| Ring-necked snake | 22 |
| Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake venomous | 21 |
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.