Range
The southwestern blackhead is endemic to the southwestern united states and Mexico. It is found in the US states of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and Colorado.
Habitats
The Southwestern Black headed snake is commonly found in desert, grasslands, woodlands and open coniferous forests. They are most active at night where they forage for soft bodied insects and centipedes in rocks, logs loose soil, leaf litter or debris. The Southwestern blackhead is rear fanged, using its teeth and modified saliva to subdue its prey, although its venom is harmless to humans. Females typically lay 1-3 eggs in between My-June, which hatch in the fall season.
Identification
They are small and slender, growing to a maximum body length of 15 inches. It has a flat, dark brown or black colored head, a light collar separates this dark cap and the body color, which is uniformly brown. These snakes have smooth, shiny scales, with typically whitish undersides and a reddish stripe which extends to the center of the ventral scales.
Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians