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Snakes of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER​ SERPENTES

Western Lyre Snake

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Reptiles (Class Reptilia)

-​Snakes and Lizards (Order Squamata)

-Snakes (Suborder Serpentes)

-Colubrid Snakes (Family Colubridae)

-Colubrine Snakes (Subfamily Colubrinae)

-Lyre Snakes (Genus Trimorphodon)

-Western Lyre Snake (Trimorphodon biscutatus)


Named for the V-shaped lyre on its head, this medium-sized snake reaches a length of nearly 4 feet (1.2 m). The broad head with narrow neck gives the lyre snake a triangular-shaped head. Dark brown saddles reside on a light brown to light gray back. The underside is creamy-white or yellow with scattered brown spots. This mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake feeds primarily on lizards, but also eats birds and bats. Primarily nocturnal, it is seldom active during the day.

Trimorphodon biscutatus

Diet

  • Carnivorous, feeding primarily on lizards (especially geckos, anoles, and spiny lizards), as well as small rodents, bats, birds, bird eggs, frogs, and occasionally other snakes.

  • A nocturnal ambush predator that uses a mild rear-fanged venom to immobilize prey before swallowing it whole.

  • Excellent climber that frequently hunts on rocky cliffs, trees, and even around cave entrances where bats roost.

Range

  • Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.

  • In Mexico, it occurs across much of the country, including the Pacific slope, where it is found in Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

  • Found from sea level to approximately 2,400 m (7,900 ft).

Habitat

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn scrub, rocky hillsides, canyons, deserts, oak woodlands, pine-oak forests, and coastal scrub.

  • Most commonly associated with rocky outcrops, cliffs, boulder fields, and stone walls, where it shelters in crevices during the day.

  • Nocturnal, emerging after dark to hunt on the ground and in low vegetation.

Size

  • Total length: 60–120 cm (24–47 in)

  • Average adult length: 75–100 cm (30–39 in)

  • Weight: 100–350 g

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