Is the Tantilla selmae venomous?

No. The Tantilla selmae 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 Tantilla selmae poisonous?

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

Is the Tantilla selmae dangerous?

The Tantilla selmae is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Tantilla selmae live?

The Tantilla selmae has verified records in 27 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Small burrowing snake

Tantilla selmae

Harmless

This species has no widely used English common name.

Tantilla selmae is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 27 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 Tantilla selmae

The Tantilla selmae belongs to the Colubridae family, colubrids. The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to.

Colubridae is by far the biggest family of snakes, with roughly two thousand species worldwide. It is a catch-all of mostly slender, agile, day-active snakes: ratsnakes, kingsnakes, gartersnakes, watersnakes, racers, whipsnakes, and hundreds more. The vast majority are harmless to people and kill prey by grabbing or constricting rather than with venom.

Its genus, Tantilla, covers Black-headed and crowned snakes. Tantilla are small, secretive burrowers best known for the dark cap or collar many of them wear behind a pale neck.

The Tantilla selmae is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check. Tiny and slender, plain brown or tan, often with a darker head cap.

Tiny, 6–12 in. Under rocks, logs, and leaf litter across many habitats.

It has been recorded across 27 countries, including the United States of America, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. In the United States it has been documented in 25 states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Florida.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Tantilla selmae

Is the Tantilla selmae venomous?: No. The Tantilla selmae 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 Tantilla selmae poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Tantilla selmae is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Tantilla selmae dangerous?: The Tantilla selmae is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Tantilla selmae live?: The Tantilla selmae has verified records in 27 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.
How do I identify the Tantilla selmae?: Tiny and slender, plain brown or tan, often with a darker head cap.
How big does the Tantilla selmae get?: Tiny, 6–12 in.

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 selmae

Keep learning

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