Snake Species Dinosaur species

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

PLAINS BLACK-HEADED SNAKE
Tantilla nigriceps

PLAINS BLACK-HEADED SNAKE  <br />Tantilla nigriceps - snake species | gveli | გველი

PLAINS BLACK-HEADED SNAKE
Tantilla nigriceps

DESCRIPTION:
A small (up to 380 mm or 15" in total length), slender tan or cream colored snake with a dark gray-brown or black head cap. The head cap tapers to a point on its rear edge and extends back more than 3 small scales behind the parietal furrow (central seam between rear-most large head scales).

A red, pink, or orange stripe runs down the center of the belly. The scales are smooth and the small head is barely distinct from the neck. There are enlarged, grooved teeth in the rear upper jaw.

DISTRIBUTION:
This snake is found in the valleys of southeastern Arizona at elevations ranging from 3,200' to about 6,000'.

HABITAT:
It inhabits Chihuahuan Desertscrub, Semidesert Grassland, and the lower extremes of Madrean Evergreen Woodland communities. It is usually found below the steep terrain on gently sloping bajadas and low valley bottoms.

BEHAVIOR:
This secretive, nocturnal ground-dweller is occasionally encountered on the surface at night but spends the majority of its time in underground burrows. Most near-surface activity seems to occur on moist spring and summer days when this snake can be found under rocks, logs, and surface debris. It hibernates during the cold months of late fall and winter.

DIET:
Venom is delivered to prey via enlarged, grooved teeth in the rear upper jaw (not considered to be dangerous to humans). It eats a variety of invertebrates including centipedes, scorpions, beetle larvae, and other insects.

REPRODUCTION:
A clutch of up to 3 eggs is laid in late spring or early summer. Hatchlings begin to emerge in summer.

Coluber lateralis lateralis - California Striped Racer | Snake Species Crotalus cerastes laterorepens - Colorado Desert Sidewinder | Snake Species WESTERN RATTLESNAKE <br />  Crotalus oreganus | Snake Species
 SIDEWINDER  Crotalus cerastes | Snake Species  EASTERN PATCH-NOSED SNAKE <br /> Salvadora grahamiae | Snake Species Tantilla planiceps - Western Black-headed Snake | Snake Species
THORNSCRUB HOOK-NOSED SNAKE  <br />   Gyalopion quadrangulare | Snake Species Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae - Mountain Patch-nosed Snake | Snake Species Hypsiglena chlorophaea (torquata) loreala - Mesa Verde Nightsnake | Snake Species
 GROUNDSNAKE  Sonora semiannulata | Snake Species  SIDEWINDER  Crotalus cerastes | Snake Species TERRESTRIAL GARTERSNAKE  <br /> Thamnophis elegans | Snake Species
SONORAN SHOVEL-NOSED SNAKE  <br />   Chionactis palarostris | Snake Species Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus - Red-striped Ribbon Snake | Snake Species Crotalus atrox - Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake | Snake Species
Lampropeltis alterna - Gray-banded Kingsnake | Snake Species Storeria dekayi texana - Texas Brownsnake | Snake Species  DESERT NIGHTSNAKE  Hypsiglena chlorophaea | Snake Species
Crotalus cerastes laterorepens - Colorado Desert Sidewinder | Snake Species Pituophis catenifer annectens - San Diego Gopher Snake | Snake Species Arizona elegans candida - Mohave Glossy Snake | Snake Species

Copyright © 2012