Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Higher classification Tantilla | |
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Similar Tantilla, Snake, Reptile, Western black‑hea, Sonora | ||
Tantilla hobartsmithi, commonly known as the southwestern blackhead snake, Smith's blackhead snake, or Smith's black-headed snake, is a species of small colubrid snake native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name or epithet, hobartsmithi, is in honor of American zoologist and herpetologist Hobart M. Smith (1912–2013).
Taxonomy and systematics
T. hobartsmithi was first described by Edward Harrison Taylor in 1936.
Description
The southwestern blackhead snake is a small snake, growing to a maximum total length (including tail) of 15 in (38 cm), but typically averaging around 8 in (20 cm) in total length.
Dorsally, it is uniformly brown in color, except for the black-colored head, which gives it its common name, and a cream-colored or white collar. On the belly, there is a broad reddish stripe, which runs down the center of the ventral scales.
Venom
T. hobartsmithi is rear-fanged, having enlarged rear teeth and a modified saliva, which while harmless to mammals, is believed to be toxic to arthropods, their primary prey.
Behavior
Blackhead snakes (genus Tantilla) are primarily nocturnal and fossorial, spending most of their time hiding in loose soil, leaf litter, or under ground debris.
Diet
Blackhead snakes eat most varieties of soft-bodied insects and centipedes.
Geographic range
The southwestern blackhead snake is found in the southwestern United States, in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah, as well as in northern Mexico, in Chihuahua, and Coahuila, and Sonora.
In California, it was sighted in Darwin Falls, Death Valley National Park, on May 18 of 2012, and in Jamul on May 16 of 2016. It has also been seen in Sedona Arizona of Yavapai County on April 11, 2005.
In Texas, it was found in Big Bend National Park on April 25, 2010.