Mexican Black-headed Snake

Tantilla atriceps

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The Mexican black-headed snake is a relatively thin snake with adults having length ranging from 5-8 inches. This species has a dark cap on its head and that is the only…

How to identify

The Mexican black-headed snake is a relatively thin snake with adults having length ranging from 5-8 inches. This species has a dark cap on its head and that is the only dark pigmentation found on its dorsal surface. The black cap extends as far as two scales behind the parietals and has a posterior edge that is slightly convex or straight. Some individual members have a line that separates the back of the cap from the other parts of the body. The line is usually light colored. The Mexican black-headed snake has a red or pink ventral surface.

Range

This species ranges from Kleburg and Duval in Texas to central Coahuila south to San Luis Potosi.

Habitat

The Mexican black-headed snake inhabits moist areas and takes refuge under stones, mountain canyons and desert washes. Tantilla atriceps are nocturnal in nature. This species feed on invertebrates, scorpions, spiders and insects.

Similar species

The Southwestern blackhead snake or Tantilla hobartsmithi is uniformly brown in color except for its cream-colored collar and black-colored head. The southeastern crown snake or Tantilla coronate has a black head and a yellowish crossbar on its occiput. This species has a whitish underside while the rest of its body is reddish brown. It possesses smooth dorsal scales The black-headed snake or Tantilla melanocephaia has three to five narrow stripes and a dorsum that is pale brown or red. The top of its head and neck are black and it is ventrally yellow.