Western black-headed snake facts for kids
The Western black-headed snake (Tantilla planiceps), also called the California black-headed snake, is a small snake found only in the Californias. This includes the State of California in the U.S. and the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. You can find it as far north as the San Francisco Bay area, and as far east as western Utah and Texas.
This snake loves to live in damp spots, even in places that are mostly dry or semi-dry. It spends a lot of its time hidden underground. It has a flat head, which helps it move through small cracks and spaces. These snakes are usually about 7 to 15 inches long. They are brown or olive-gray, with a black head that has a white band around its neck. You can often find them in woodlands, deserts, grasslands, and along dry riverbeds (called arroyos) where there might be some moisture.
Quick facts for kids Western black-headed snake |
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About the Western Black-Headed Snake
The Western black-headed snake is part of a bigger group of small snakes called colubrids. These snakes live on land in the New World (North and South America). Some of its relatives include the sand snake (Chilomeniscus), the shovel-nosed snake (Chionactis), and the ground snake (Sonora).
The Western black-headed snake is very closely related to Tantilla yaquia, which lives in southern Arizona. It's also related to other snakes found in the southwestern United States, like Tantilla gracilis, Tantilla atriceps, Tantilla hobartsmithi, and Tantilla nigriceps. It looks a lot like the southwestern black-headed snake (T. hobartsmithi).
What They Eat
These snakes are very shy and hard to spot. They spend most of their time hidden under things, especially during the day. They like to eat small creatures like arthropods. Their favorite foods are centipedes and beetle larvae. They also munch on spiders, other insects, slugs, and earthworms.
Where They Live
The Western black-headed snake prefers areas that are wet, even if the surrounding region is dry. This can include:
- Woodlands
- Desert areas
- Grasslands
- Along arroyos (dry stream beds)
They are often found under rocks, logs, or other objects where they can stay hidden and find moisture.
Social Behavior
While you usually see these snakes alone or in pairs, sometimes up to six of them have been found together. This is quite rare, as they are very secretive animals.
