Description: This is one of the most spectacularly variable snakes in North America and is one of the most variable in the genus Sonora. Populations can be polymorphic for the presence or absence of black crossbands, a red, longitudinally oriented dorsal stripe, a single nuchal band, or a black cap on the head. Some individuals have a longitudinal stripe that does not have any red pigment, but lacks maculation that is present on the remaining dorsal scales. Banded individuals can vary greatly in appearance, with bands ranging in expres- sion from complete saddles to broken bands or symmetrical dorsolateral dots. Bands often change in appearance from the head to the tail, becoming broken or absent on the tail and distal surfaces of the body. Ground colour can range from grey, to tan, to brown, to russet or red. The presence of maculations on the scales can vary tremendously, ranging from a barely detectable dot to a large marking that encompasses most of the scale.

Habitat: The species' habitats include arid and semi-arid regions: river bottoms, desert flats, sand hummocks, rocky hillsides with pockets of loose soil; from prairie and desert lowlands to pinyon-juniper and oak-pine zone; soil may be rocky to sandy, vegetation dense to sparse./

Range: USA (Missouri, N Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, SE Colorado, S/E New Mexico, Mexico (Coahuila)

Found in these States: AR | CO | KS | MO NM | TX

Diet: Eats spiders, scorpions, centipedes, crickets, grasshoppers, and insect larvae.

Reproduction: Ooviparous. Lays clutch of 3-6 eggs, usually in June-July but as late as August (California); sexually mature in 2nd year.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: On November 1, 2022 Sonora semiannulata was split into several species. Sonora semiannulata, Sonora taylori, Sonora mosaueri, and Sonora episcopa.