Mexican Black-headed Snake
Tantilla atriceps
(Günther, 1895 in Salvin and Godman, 1885-1902)
tan-TILL-ah — AH-trih-seps
SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
There are no current SSAR comments for this taxon.
Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2023.04.10.13.42.12)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 0.09 MB
Province/State Distribution:
United States: Texas
Taxonomic Etymology:
Named for its jet-black head.
Tantilla — A diminutive form of Tantillus, itself likely derived from Latin tantus, meaning “so small” or “so little.” The name refers to the small size of these snakes.
atriceps — From Latin ater (“black”) and -ceps from caput (“head”), meaning “black-headed,” describing the distinctive black coloration on the head.
First instance(s) of published English names:
Mexican Black-headed Snake (Tantilla atriceps: Schmidt, Karl Peterson and D. D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. C.P. Putnam and Sons, New York. 365pp.);
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
The Reptile Database
GenBank
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
Selected References:
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1895
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Gunther, Albert C. L. G. Biologia Centrali-Américana. Reptilia and Batrachia. 1885-1902. Taylor and Francis, London. 326pp.
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1936
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Taylor, Edward H. Notes and comments on certain American and Mexican snakes of the genus Tantilla with descriptions of new species. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 39:335-348
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1938
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Blanchard, Frank N. Snakes of the genus Tantilla in the United States. Zoological Series of the Field Museum of Natural History 20(28):369-376
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1966
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Tanner, Wilmer W. A re-evaluation of the genus Tantilla in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Herpetologica 22(2):134-152
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1982
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Wilson, Larry David. Tantilla. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (307):1-4
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1983
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Cole, Charles J. and Hardy, Laurence M. Tantilla atriceps. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (317):1-2
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