Types of rustyhead snakes

Amastridium is a tiny genus of small colubrid snakes in the family Colubridae, the largest and most diverse snake family in the world. Only two species are recognized: the Rustyhead Snake and Sapper's Rustyhead Snake. The genus name points to their most consistent field mark, a reddish or rusty wash across the head and nape that contrasts with an otherwise dark, slaty body. They are leaf-litter snakes of humid forest, and like most colubrids they are slender, smooth-scaled, and far more interested in escaping than confronting anything larger than themselves.

These snakes occur in the wet lowland and foothill forests of Central America, ranging through parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. They live close to the ground, sheltering under logs, rocks, damp leaf litter, and forest debris, and they are most active in the moist conditions that rainforest floors provide. Because they are small, dark, and secretive, they are rarely seen even where they live, and most encounters come from turning cover objects or finding them moving after rain. In general terms you recognize them by their modest size, smooth scales, dark body, and the diagnostic rusty head color.

Members of Amastridium are non-venomous and harmless to people. They are not front-fanged venomous snakes and pose no medical danger; their defense is to flee, hide, or release musk rather than bite. They feed on small forest-floor prey such as frogs and other small animals they can overpower, and like most colubrids of this type they lay eggs rather than giving live birth. As with any wild animal, the responsible practice is to observe rather than handle, and to leave wild snakes undisturbed. If a person is ever bitten by a snake they cannot positively identify, treat it as a medical matter and contact emergency services or US Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.