A small, mildly venomous rear-fanged snake of southwestern North American canyons, named for the V-shaped lyre marking on the head.
Description
The lyre snake is a slim grey or tan colubrid usually under a metre long, with vertical pupils and a flat triangular head that bears a dark V or lyre-shaped marking pointing forward. The body shows a row of darker grey-brown blotches edged in black.
Behavior
Mostly nocturnal, lyre snakes climb skilfully into the cracks of canyon walls and rock piles to hunt sleeping lizards. They have grooved rear fangs that deliver a mild venom, sufficient for prey but causing only minor local effects in humans. They are gentle and reluctant to bite.
Range
Distributed from the southwestern United States across Mexico and into Central America. Several formerly grouped subspecies are now treated as separate species, each restricted to particular highland or canyon habitats.
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