The Plains black-headed snake or Plains blackhead snake (''Tantilla nigriceps'') is a species of snake of the
family Colubridae
Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ever ...
. They are approximately in length, with a uniform tan to brownish-gray. Their ventral scales are white with a pink or orange mid-line. It is readily distinguished from the Chihuahuan (''T. wilcoxi'') and Yaqui (''T. yaquia'') black-headed snakes by the absence of a light neck collar.
Geographic range
The snake is found in the US states of
Colorado,
Texas,
Kansas,
Nebraska,
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
, and
New Mexico and in
Mexico.
Habitat
They are often found in rocky or grassy prairies, or hillsides where the soil is moist. Occasionally they are found in basements.
Behavior
The Plains black-headed snake is often secretive and can be found seeking refuge in leaf-litter or in small burrows, while being surface active at night. It has been collected from February into September in Arizona, but most are found in August. It is susceptible to desiccation and unlikely to be found surface active or under surface debris in dry periods or seasons.
Breeding
It is presumed that they lay up to three eggs in the spring or early summer, where hatchlings will begin to emerge during the summer.
References
Colubrids
Snakes of North America
Reptiles of Mexico
Reptiles of the United States
Reptiles described in 1860
Taxa named by Robert Kennicott
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