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Tantilla nigriceps

Kennicott, 1860

Plains Black-headed Snake

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103317
Element CodeARADB35050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusTantilla
Concept Reference
Cole, C. J., and L. M. Hardy. 1981. Systematics of North American colubrid snakes related to Tantilla planiceps (Blainville). Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 171:199-284.
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-12-15
Change Date1996-10-30
Edition Date2005-12-15
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
The range extends from southeastern Wyoming and southern Nebraska south through eastern Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas), at elevations from near sea level to around 2,130 meters (7,000 feet) (Cole and Hardy 1981, Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known. Conversion of habitat to intensive agricultural uses likely has reduced the area of occupancy in some regions.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitats include plains and desert grassland, shrubland, sandhills, rocky canyons, riparian zones along prairie streams, and thorn brush woodland (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Tennant 1998, Hammerson 1999, Werler and Dixon 2000, Stebbins 2003). Sometimes this snake can be found in old rubbish dumps. It shelters underground or under rocks or other cover by day, travels in open at night.

Reproduction

Probably lays clutch of 1-3 eggs in summer. Eggs probably hatch in summer or fall. A captive laid 2 eggs on June 11; hatching occurred on July 25 (Tennant 1984).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoS5Yes
WyomingSNRYes
TexasS5Yes
NebraskaS1Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
KansasS4Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
ArizonaS2Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
References (17)
  1. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  2. Cole, C. J., and L. M. Hardy. 1981. Systematics of North American colubrid snakes related to Tantilla planiceps (Blainville). Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 171:199-284.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1982. Amphibians and reptiles in Kansas. Second edition. Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., Pub. Ed. Ser. 8. xiii + 356 pp.
  4. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  7. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  8. Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. xix + 431 pp.
  9. Ernst, C. H., and E. M. Ernst. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Books, Washington, D.C.
  10. Hammerson, G. A. 1982b. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver. vii + 131 pp.
  11. Hammerson, G. A. 1999. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. Second edition. University Press of Colorado, Boulder. xxvi + 484 pp.
  12. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  13. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  14. Tennant, A. 1984. The Snakes of Texas. Texas Monthly Press, Austin, Texas. 561 pp.
  15. Tennant, A. 1998. A field guide to Texas snakes. Second edition. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas.
  16. Webb, R. G. 1970. Reptiles of Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 370 pp.
  17. Werler, J. E., and J. R. Dixon. 2000. Texas snakes: identification, distribution, and natural history. University of Texas Press, Austin. xv + 437 pp.