Is the Black-headed Snake venomous?

No. The Black-headed Snake (Tantilla melanocephala) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.

Is the Black-headed Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black-headed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Black-headed Snake dangerous?

The Black-headed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Black-headed Snake live?

The Black-headed Snake has verified records in 24 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.

How do I identify the Black-headed Snake?

Tiny and slender, plain brown or tan, often with a darker head cap.

Small burrowing snake

Black-headed Snake

Harmless

Tantilla melanocephala

Black-headed Snake — Tantilla melanocephala, © Marcos Severgnini

6 photographs of the Black-headed Snake. © Marcos Severgnini.

The Black-headed Snake (Tantilla melanocephala) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 24 countries.

Also called: Small burrowing snake
Family: Colubridae
Size: Tiny, 6–12 in.
Habitat: Under rocks, logs, and leaf litter across many habitats.
Behavior: Secretive, burrowing insect- and centipede-eaters; almost never seen above ground.
Identify: Tiny and slender, plain brown or tan, often with a darker head cap.

About the Black-headed Snake

Tantilla melanocephala, commonly known as the black-headed snake, the neotropical black-headed snake, and la culebra de cabeza negra in Spanish, is a small species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to Central America and South America.

Geographic range

In Central America Tantilla melanocephala is found from Guatemala south to Panama. In South America it is found from Trinidad and Tobago south to northern Argentina.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Tantilla melanocephala are grassland, savanna, and forest, at altitudes from sea level to 2,750 m (9,020 ft), and it has also been found in artificial habitats such as pastures, gardens, and plantations.

Description

Tantilla melanocephala may attain a total length of 50 cm (20 in), which includes a tail 10 cm (3.9 in) long.

Dorsally, it is pale brown or red, and some specimens also have 3 or 5 narrow brown stripes. The top of the head and neck are black or dark brown. Ventrally, it is yellowish white.

The dorsal scales are smooth, without apical pits, and arranged in 15 rows at midbody.

Behavior

Tantilla melanocephala is terrestrial and diurnal.

Diet

Tantilla melanocephala preys predominately upon centipedes and possibly occasionally other arthropods.

Reproduction

Tantilla melanocephala is oviparous.

Taxonomy

Several species of snakes, which were originally described as species new to science, are synonyms of Tantilla melanocephala. The following is a partial list in chronological order.

Elapomorphus mexicanus Günther, 1862

Tantilla pallida Cope, 1887

Homalocranium longifrontale Boulenger, 1896

Homalocranium hoffmanni F. Werner, 1909

Elapomorphus nuchalis Barbour, 1914

Tantilla equatoriana Wilson & Mena, 1980

Tantilla marcovani de Lema, 2004

Etymology

The synonym Tantilla marcovani was named in honor of Brazilian biologist Marcovan Porto.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Black-headed Snake

Is the Black-headed Snake venomous?: No. The Black-headed Snake (Tantilla melanocephala) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
Is the Black-headed Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black-headed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Black-headed Snake dangerous?: The Black-headed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Black-headed Snake live?: The Black-headed Snake has verified records in 24 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.
How do I identify the Black-headed Snake?: Tiny and slender, plain brown or tan, often with a darker head cap.
How big does the Black-headed Snake get?: Tiny, 6–12 in.
What does the Black-headed Snake eat?: Tantilla melanocephala preys predominately upon centipedes and possibly occasionally other arthropods.
Why is it called the Black-headed Snake?: The synonym Tantilla marcovani was named in honor of Brazilian biologist Marcovan Porto.

More Colubridae snakes

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards: Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits: Colubridae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Tantilla
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Tantilla melanocephala

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.