Nevada Shovel-nosed Snake
Chionactis occipitalis talpina
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- C. o. talpina – Inyo Co, CA – photo by Will Flaxington (www.naherp.com)
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- C. o. talpina – Inyo Co, CA – photo by Brian Hinds (www.naherp.com)
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Chionactis o. talpina occurs in southeastern Nevada and the northern region of the California Mojave Desert.
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chionactis occipitalis klauberi (Stickel – 1941)
Genus: Chionactis, Greek – chion = snow + aktis = ray or beam
Species: occipitalis, Latin = pertaining to the back of the head
Subspecies: talpina, Latin – talpa = a mole + ina = belonging to – ref. mole-like fossorial behavior
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006