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Black-headed snake facts for kids

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Black-headed snake
Tantilla melanocephala from the Atlantic Forest (10.3897-zookeys.787.26946) Figure 4 (cropped).jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Tantilla
Species:
melanocephala
Synonyms
  • Coluber melanocephalus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Elaps melanocephalus
    — Wagler, 1824
  • Duberria melanocephala
    — Fitzinger, 1826
  • Calamaria melanocephala
    — Schlegel, 1837
  • Homalocranium melanocephalum
    — A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1854
  • Tantilla melanocephala
    — Cope, 1861

Tantilla melanocephala, commonly known as the black-headed snake, is a species of small colubrid snake endemic to Central America and South America.

Geographic range

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

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.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tantilla melanocephala para niños

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