Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake

Phyllorhynchus decurtatus

The Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) is a small, harmless snake is not often seen. They’re small, usually only around a foot long. They are a cream, pink, or tan color with irregularly-shaped blotches along the back, from head to tail, in a much higher frequency than the few saddles appearing on the Saddled Leaf-Nosed Snake. The face has an enlarged scaled shaped like an upside-down heart that they use to push through sandy soil.

They are heavy-bodied for their size, which can help differentiate them from the more commonly-seen variety of other small, ground-dwelling snakes.

An eater of primarily lizard eggs, this snake is completely harmless. If stressed, it might perform a series of dramatic, fake hisses and strikes with its mouth closed, but does not actually bite.