Reptiles

Chihuahuan Desert Lyresnake

Trimorphodon vilkinsonii

Authorship: Cope

Notes

There is a photograph of the Double Tank Corral area snake on Centennial Museum, Chihuahuan Desert Website. LaDuc and Johnson, 2003, changed the specific epithet from T. biscutatus.

Records

It was observd 2 May1992 from Double Tank Corral area, from 12 July 2008, 20 June 2015, and during June 2017 near Prospect Pits and Echo Canyon by UTEP personnel, 22 July 2016 near Red Tank by J.D. Emerson, 30 July 2016 on mountain directly northeast of IMRS HQ, and June 2017 at Prospect Pits and Echo Canyon by UTEP personnel.

Sources

[Couvillon, 2011a, b, J.D. Johnson (UTEP), LaDuc and Johnson, 2003]

Taxonomic Classification

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumChordata (Chordates)

SubphylumVERTEBRATA (Vertebrates)

ClassReptilia (Reptiles)

OrderSquamata (Lizards and Snakes)

SuborderSerpentes (Snakes)

FamilyCOLUBRIDAE (Harmless Egg-laying Snake Family)

GenusTrimorphodon

Speciesvilkinsonii

Recent Observations

Sourced from iNaturalist

katherine_lentzOct 8, 2026Panther Canyon Dr, Alpine, TX, US

leachAug 31, 2019Sierra County, US-NM, US

hulatoeSep 4, 2026New Mexico, US

johnklymkoJul 20, 2026Brewster County, TX, USA

colorado_crustaceansAug 1, 2026New Mexico, US

jcbb2023Jul 18, 2025Panther Canyon Dr, Alpine, TX, US

gtsalmonJun 25, 2026Big Brushy Canyon, Brewster County, TX, US

tritchieJun 14, 2026Big Bend Ranch State Park, Presidio, TX, US

bluehareSep 9, 2025Sierra County, US-NM, US

janrichmondSep 9, 2025Sierra County, US-NM, US

Conservation assessments from the following sources:

NatureServe Explorer
IUCN Red List
Texas Parks & Wildlife — Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)

Conservation status by source
IUCN Red List	LCLeast Concern
NatureServe Global (opens in new tab)	G4Apparently Secure
NatureServe (Texas) (opens in new tab)	S4Apparently Secure
Texas SGCN	Not assessed