The Desert Night Snake is British Columbia's only rear-fanged venomous snake. It is one of the smallest snakes in British Columbia with a total adult length is 305-500 mm. An observer's first impression of this species is of a slender blotched snake which could be mistaken for a juvenile racer, gopher snake or rattlesnake. A close examination will reveal the easiest distinguishing marks.
Night snakes have a unique dark mark on their neck.
This mark may be fused into a continuous dark blotch or it may be several distinct blotches or some variation in between. In examining the snake's head, the observer will note a dark bar behind the eye which contrasts clearly with the white upper lip scales. As well, the head appears somewhat flat and slightly triangular. Distribution Map Red dots indicate specimen records or confirmed breeding sites. British Columbia As might be expected with such a wide-ranging animal, there is considerable debate about subspecies .