Head to head
Prairie Kingsnake vs Patch-Nosed Snake
A prairie kingsnake and a patch-nosed snake both make a living hunting across open grassland and desert terrain, yet each has settled on a completely different prey specialty and a completely different way of finding it.
| Prairie Kingsnake | Patch-Nosed Snake | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lampropeltis calligaster | Salvadora spp. |
| Primary prey | Rodents | Lizards and their eggs |
| Hunting style | Underground, secretive | Fast, active surface pursuit |
| Distinctive feature | Pattern fades with age | Enlarged upturned snout scale |
| Killing method | Constriction | Constriction |
| Venomous | No | No |
| Habitat | Grassland and prairie | Desert and grassland |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Prairie Kingsnake vs Patch-Nosed Snake: common questions
Which snake hunts underground, the prairie kingsnake or the patch-nosed snake?
The prairie kingsnake is the one that spends much of its life underground, hunting rodents in burrows and beneath surface debris, while the patch-nosed snake hunts mainly above ground, moving quickly across open terrain and using its specialised snout scale to dig specifically for buried lizard eggs rather than pursuing prey underground generally.
What is the patch-nosed snake's enlarged snout scale actually for?
A patch-nosed snake uses its distinctly enlarged, upturned snout scale like a small shovel, digging into loose desert soil and sand to reach buried lizard eggs that would otherwise be completely inaccessible, a specialised tool the prairie kingsnake has no equivalent for since it targets rodents instead.
Are either of these snakes dangerous?
No, both the prairie kingsnake and the patch-nosed snake are entirely non-venomous, harmless species that kill their prey through constriction and pose no danger to people, generally preferring to flee or hide rather than bite defensively when encountered.