Southwestern Blackhead Snake
Tantilla hobartsmithi
Silhouette: Jessica Tingle · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
- GenusTantilla (Centipede Snakes)
- SpeciesTantilla hobartsmithi (Southwestern Blackhead Snake)
About the Southwestern Blackhead Snake
Tantilla hobartsmithi, commonly known as Smith's black-headed snake and the southwestern blackhead snake, is a species of small snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico.
The specific name or epithet, hobartsmithi, is in honor of American zoologist and herpetologist Hobart M. Smith (1912–2013). Tantilla hobartsmithi was first described by Edward Harrison Taylor in 1936. The southwestern blackhead snake is a small snake, growing to a maximum total length (tail included) 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.
Tantilla hobartsmithi is rear-fanged, having enlarged rear teeth and a modified saliva, which while harmless to mammals, is believed to be toxic to arthropods, its primary prey. Blackhead snakes (genus Tantilla... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Southwestern Blackhead Snake in Big Bend National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Big Bend National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Southwestern Blackhead Snake in Big Bend National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Southwestern Blackhead Snake sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Southwestern Blackhead Snake in Big Bend National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Southwestern Blackhead Snake in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.