Long-nosed snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)
The long-nosed snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 3,674 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 9 states, most of all Arizona (1,385), California (1,014) and Texas (725). Its observation records peak in June.
The long-nosed snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America. It has two recognized subspecies.
From Wikipedia: Long-nosed snake, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the long-nosed snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The long-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.
Often mistaken for
The long-nosed snake is non-venomous, but people often take it for coral snakes (both are recorded in 3 of its 9 states).
Which states have the long-nosed snake?
Records are spread over 9 states; the top three, Arizona, California and Texas, hold 85% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 1,385 | 6.7% | 4th of 60 |
| 2 | California | 1,014 | 1.4% | 17th of 46 |
| 3 | Texas | 725 | 1.8% | 19th of 86 |
| 4 | Nevada | 263 | 6.5% | 6th of 27 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 169 | 2.6% | 9th of 56 |
| 6 | Kansas | 67 | 0.5% | 34th of 44 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 30 | 0.2% | 44th of 50 |
| 8 | Utah | 17 | 0.5% | 15th of 28 |
| 9 | Colorado | 3 | 0.1% | 23rd of 26 |
When is the long-nosed snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the long-nosed snake run mostly April through September, peaking in June with 20% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (California) and latest in May (New Mexico). The most common peak month is August, shared by Arizona and New Mexico.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | April through September | August | 136 |
| Texas | April through August | June | 91 |
| California | March through July | May | 50 |
| New Mexico | May through September | August | 35 |
Where the long-nosed snake is recorded in each state
Arizona
Arizona holds 1,385 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 60 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Arizona run mostly April through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Pima County, Cochise County and Maricopa County. Next come Pinal County (179) and Santa Cruz County (34).
California
California holds 1,014 licensed records, the 17th most recorded of 46 snakes listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly March through July, peaking in May; most licensed records come from San Diego County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County. Next come Kern County (86) and Inyo County (45).
Texas
Texas holds 725 licensed records, the 19th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly April through August, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Brewster County, Tom Green County and Hudspeth County. Next come Val Verde County (36) and Andrews County (35).
Nevada
Nevada holds 263 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nevada come from Clark County, Nye County and Lincoln County. Next come Mineral County (7) and Washoe County (6).
New Mexico
New Mexico holds 169 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 56 snakes listed there. Its observation records in New Mexico run mostly May through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Doña Ana County and Grant County. Next come Eddy County (14) and Luna County (12).
Kansas
Kansas holds 67 licensed records, the 34th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Kansas come from Barber County, Meade County and Comanche County. Next come Finney County (6) and Morton County (6).
Oklahoma
Oklahoma holds 30 licensed records, the 44th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Ellis County, Harmon County and Harper County. Next come Woodward County (3) and Cimarron County (1).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pima County | Arizona | 627 | 17.1% |
| 2 | San Diego County | California | 347 | 9.4% |
| 3 | Cochise County | Arizona | 221 | 6.0% |
| 4 | San Bernardino County | California | 209 | 5.7% |
| 5 | Maricopa County | Arizona | 205 | 5.6% |
| 6 | Pinal County | Arizona | 179 | 4.9% |
| 7 | Riverside County | California | 162 | 4.4% |
| 8 | Clark County | Nevada | 144 | 3.9% |
| 9 | Brewster County | Texas | 102 | 2.8% |
| 10 | Nye County | Nevada | 90 | 2.4% |
| 11 | Kern County | California | 86 | 2.3% |
| 12 | Hidalgo County | New Mexico | 62 | 1.7% |
| 13 | Inyo County | California | 45 | 1.2% |
| 14 | Tom Green County | Texas | 41 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Hudspeth County | Texas | 39 | 1.1% |
How recent are the long-nosed snake records?
The long-nosed snake record leans on older material: only 9% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1973. The oldest dated record is from 1855; the busiest year was 1978, with 120 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1 | 0.0% |
| 1870s | 5 | 0.2% |
| 1880s | 2 | 0.1% |
| 1890s | 7 | 0.2% |
| 1900s | 9 | 0.3% |
| 1910s | 16 | 0.5% |
| 1920s | 34 | 1.1% |
| 1930s | 166 | 5.5% |
| 1940s | 196 | 6.5% |
| 1950s | 356 | 11.8% |
| 1960s | 565 | 18.8% |
| 1970s | 470 | 15.6% |
| 1980s | 296 | 9.8% |
| 1990s | 152 | 5.0% |
| 2000s | 214 | 7.1% |
| 2010s | 338 | 11.2% |
| 2020s | 185 | 6.1% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 96 counties where the long-nosed snake is most recorded, 83 are also top counties for the gopher snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the prairie rattlesnake and the western diamondback rattlesnake.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Gopher snake | 83 |
| Glossy snake | 70 |
| Coachwhip | 62 |
| Western ground snake | 45 |
| Prairie rattlesnake venomous | 41 |
| Striped whipsnake | 40 |
| Plains black-headed snake | 37 |
| Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous | 37 |
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.