HARMLESSLY VENOMOUS. Uses its venom to subdue prey, but is not dangerous to humans because a) they have an ineffective venom delivery mechanism, b) their mouths too small to gain purchase, and/or c) their venom is not adapted for causing physiological damage to mammals.
The Flat-headed Snake is the smallest snake in Kansas, and is characterized by smooth scales, a divided anal scale, an unpatterned, light brown body and tail which becomes gradually darker toward the head, a dark brown or gray head, one scale directly behind each eye, and six scales on each upper lip. The belly is salmon pink. Adult males have slightly longer tails than females. Females grow larger than males.
Adults normally grow 180-203 mm (7-8 inches) in total length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a female (KU 83480) from Cowley County with a total length of 244 mm (95⁄8 inches) collected by Charles E. Burt between 1938 and 1941; maximum length throughout the range is 250.8 mm (97⁄8 inches) (Powell et al., 2016).
Generally found east of the Flint Hills and south of the Drift Hills.
This snake inhabits the rocky hillsides of open prairie and woodland. Active from April to October, the Flat-headed Snake is very secretive, spending the day beneath flat rocks. Although Smith (1956) suggested that it may be nocturnal, little is known of its daily activity cycle in Kansas. It is discovered most frequently under rocks after spring rains. During the winter, this snake retires beneath the ground to avoid cold temperatures.
Mating occurs during early May, but courtship is unknown. Each female deposits a clutch of eggs in a nest beneath a rock in June. Number of eggs per clutch varies from one to three (Fitch, 1985); the eggs hatch in about seven weeks, and the young are slightly over 76.2-101.6 mm (3-4 inches) long at hatching (Cobb, 1990).
The Flat-headed Snake feeds primarily on centipedes and soft-bodied insect larvae.
Predators of this species include birds, small mammals, lizards, and snakes. Burt and Hoyle (1934) reported this small snake being eaten by a Leopard Frog.
First reported in Kansas by Hallowell (1857) from a shipment of specimens received from Fort Riley military surgeon William A. Hammond collected in the vicinity of Fort Riley, Riley County. Cope (1960) described Tantilla hallowelli (ANSP 3365) from a specimen collected by Dr. Hammond in Kansas (no other associated data). The earliest existing specimens (KU 1794-7) were collected in Riley County on 10 July 1909 (no other associated data).
Specimens are conspicuously absent from much of the Neosho River drainage basin. A distributional phenomenon exhibited by several additional taxa.
Two small, grooved rear fangs and small venom glands are apparently used in subduing prey, but the snake is no threat to human beings and does not bite when handled.
References
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