Is the Red Black-headed Snake venomous?

No. The Red Black-headed Snake (Tantilla rubra) 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 Red Black-headed Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Red Black-headed Snake dangerous?

The Red 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 Red Black-headed Snake live?

The Red Black-headed Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including Mexico, United States of America, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.

How do I identify the Red Black-headed Snake?

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

Small burrowing snake

Red Black-headed Snake

Harmless

Tantilla rubra

2 photographs of the Red Black-headed Snake. (c) Alberto Alcalá, some rights reserved (CC BY).

The Red Black-headed Snake (Tantilla rubra) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 4 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 Red Black-headed Snake

Tantilla rubra, also known commonly as the red black-headed snake, the Big Bend black-headed snake, and la rojilla in Spanish, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern Mexico and western Guatemala.

Geographic range

Tantilla rubra is found in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas and in western Guatemala.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Tantilla rubra is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 2,618 m (8,589 ft).

Behavior

Tantilla rubra is terrestrial.

Reproduction

Tantilla rubra is oviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Red Black-headed Snake

Is the Red Black-headed Snake venomous?: No. The Red Black-headed Snake (Tantilla rubra) 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 Red Black-headed Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Red Black-headed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Red Black-headed Snake dangerous?: The Red 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 Red Black-headed Snake live?: The Red Black-headed Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including Mexico, United States of America, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.
How do I identify the Red Black-headed Snake?: Tiny and slender, plain brown or tan, often with a darker head cap.
How big does the Red Black-headed Snake get?: Tiny, 6–12 in.

Where it is found

Mexico United States of America Guatemala Nicaragua

By U.S. state

Texas

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 rubra

Keep learning

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