Rim rock crown snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rim rock crowned snake |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tantilla
|
| Species: |
oolitica
|
The rim rock crowned snake (Tantilla oolitica) is a small, non-venomous snake. It gets its name from the "Miami Rim Rock" area where it lives. This snake is an endangered animal, meaning it's at risk of disappearing forever. It belongs to the Colubridae family of snakes.
This special snake is found only in southern Florida, United States. Its scientific name, oolitica, comes from the oolitic limestone rock found in its home. Most snakes in the Tantilla group are quite small, usually less than 20 cm (8 in) long. The rim rock crowned snake was added to the IUCN red list in 2007. This happened because it has lost much of its natural home and lives in a very small area.
Where It Lives
The rim rock crowned snake is found only in a few places in Florida. These include Dade County and Monroe County. It also lives in the Florida Keys, including the Eastern Rock Rim near Miami.
What It Looks Like and Eats
The rim rock crowned snake is a small snake. The longest one ever found was about 29 cm (11.5 in) long. Its head is black, and its back is tan or beige. Its belly is white.
This snake has an interesting diet. It likes to eat spiders, centipedes, and worms. It also eats insects and their larvae, and sometimes even scorpions!
Its Home Environment
The rim rock crowned snake prefers to live in places with rocky and sandy soils. You can often find it in pine flatwoods or tropical hardwood hammocks. These are areas with specific types of trees and plants.
Sometimes, these snakes can be found in other spots too. They might hide in cracks in limestone rocks. They also like to hide under leaves or in suburban areas near people.
Why It's Endangered
The rim rock crowned snake was put on the IUCN in 2007. This means it is an endangered species. The main reason for this is the loss of its habitat. Miami is a growing city, and this growth is taking away the snake's home.
Today, only about 2% of the original pine rocklands in the Miami area are left. These are very important places for the snake. Also, about half of the hardwood hammocks in Dade County have disappeared. Snakes living in the Florida Keys also face problems. Strong storms can cause their homes to flood.
The species is now protected under Florida's endangered and threatened species rules.
