Florida crowned snake

Florida crowned snake
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Tantilla
Species:	T. relicta
Binomial name
	Tantilla relicta; Telford, 1966
	Florida crowned snake range

Last updated July 21, 2023

The Florida crowned snake (Tantilla relicta) is a species of colubrid snake found in Florida and Georgia. It is a small, slender, non-venomous snake that is rarely seen. The species is commonly found in north and central Florida, and is most often associated with sandy habitats.

Description

The Florida crowned snake is a small, 7-9 inch (17-22 cm), slender snake that is tan, light brown or reddish brown in color. It has a brown-black head, chin, and parts of the neck. Some individuals have a pattern on the head of a pale band. The band marking may be absent in individuals from north-central Florida. It can also have a dark neck band. The underside can be white, pink or whitish-yellow.^[3]^[4] The maximum recorded total length of the species is 24 cm (9.5 in).^[5] The nose may be cream-tan in color in populations found along the Atlantic Coast.^[6]

Natural habitat

The Florida crowned snake is commonly found in north and central Florida, and in sandy habitat areas of the Gulf coast.^[7] The species is seen rarely in the southernmost border area of Georgia.^[3] It is most often associated with sandy habitats, including Florida sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods and pine hammocks.^[4]

Behavior and diet

The snake is most active in the warmest months of the year. During the winter, the Florida crowned snake spends the majority of its time burrowed in loose, sandy soils, including mounds created by burrowing animals. They also will hide under rocks or organic litter. They are rarely seen out in the open. They have been observed occupying pocket gopher and gopher tortoise burrows. Diet includes worms, snails, spiders, insects and their larvae.^[3]^[6] The snake has been observed eating beetle larvae. The populations found primarily in Florida have very large rear teeth that possibly direct venom into their prey. The species is harmless to humans.

Reproduction

Very little is known about the reproduction of the Florida crowned snake. The species lays elongated eggs.^[3] It is believed that its reproduction is probably similar to the genus Tantilla . It is assumed that the snake lays its eggs from late spring to August.^[4]

Predators and defense

The Florida crowned snake is eaten by a large variety of predators with the ability to find and apprehend the snake underground. The snake will not bite when it is picked up by humans.^[4] This species is the primary food for the rare short-tailed snake ( Lampropeltis extenuata ).^[3]

Taxonomy

Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[8] The subspecific name, neilli, is in honor of American herpetologist Wilfred T. Neill.^[9]

Tantilla relicta neilliTelford, 1966
Tantilla relicta pamlicaTelford, 1966
Tantilla relicta relictaTelford, 1966

Conservation

"The Florida crowned snake is not considered a conservation risk in Florida. Some populations of this species are threatened when their habitat is damaged or destroyed.^[4] It is listed as critically impaired in Georgia because of its small range in the state. This species is protected in the state of Georgia.^[3]

Related Research Articles

The eastern indigo snake is a species of large, non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. Native to the southeastern United States, it is the longest native snake species in the country.

Drymarchon is a genus of large nonvenomous colubrid snakes, commonly known as indigo snakes or cribos, found in the Southeastern United States, Central America, and South America.

Opheodrys is a genus of small to medium-sized nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as green snakes. In North America the genus consists of two distinct species. As their common names imply, the rough green snake has keeled dorsal scales, whereas the smooth green snake has smooth dorsal scales.

Nerodia is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as water snakes due to their aquatic behavior. The genus includes nine species, all native to North America. Five of the species have recognized subspecies.

The gopher tortoise is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for at least 360 other animal species. G. polyphemus is threatened by predation and habitat destruction. Habitat degradation is the primary reason that the gopher tortoise is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, but they are considered threatened in some states while they are endangered in others.

Tantilla is a large genus of harmless New World snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus includes 66 species, which are commonly known as centipede snakes, black-headed snakes, and flathead snakes.

Pituophis catenifer affinis, commonly known as the Sonoran gopher snake, is a nonvenomous subspecies of colubrid snake that is endemic to the southwestern United States. It is one of six recognized subspecies of the gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer.

Cemophora coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. There are two subspecies of C. coccinea that are recognized as being valid. The Texas scarlet snake was previously considered a subspecies.

Pituophis melanoleucus, commonly known as the eastern pine snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized as being valid.

The southeastern pocket gopher is a species of pocket gopher that is native to the southeastern United States. It occurs in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, where it is the only pocket gopher.

The Louisiana pine snake is a species of large, non-venomous, constrictor in the family Colubridae. This powerful snake is notable because of its large eggs and small clutch sizes. The Louisiana pine snake is indigenous to west-central Louisiana and East Texas, where it relies strongly on Baird's pocket gophers for its burrow system and as a food source. The Louisiana pine snake is rarely seen in the wild, and is considered to be one of the rarest snakes in North America. The demise of the species is due to its low fecundity coupled with the extensive loss of suitable habitat - the longleaf pine savannas in the Gulf coastal plain of the southeastern United States. Management activities are being conducted to promote the species' recovery.

Farancia erytrogramma is a species of large, nonvenomous, highly aquatic, colubrid snake, which is endemic to coastal plains of the southeastern United States. Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, one of which has been declared extinct.

Wilfred T. Neill (1922–2001) was an American herpetologist and author. His name survives in the scientific names of the central Florida crowned snake, Tantilla relicta neilli, and a Central American snail-eating snake, Sibon sanniolus neilli.

The southeastern crown snake is a common species of small colubrid snake endemic to the southeastern United States.

The rim rock crowned snake, named after the Miami Rim Rock land arrangement, is a non-venomous endangered species of snake belonging to the family Colubridae. The rim rock crowned snake is endemic to the United States throughout southern Florida. The specific name, oolitica, refers to the oolitic limestone area of Florida in which the species is found. All species of snakes that belong to the genus Tantilla, are relatively small and usually do not exceed 20 cm (8 in). The species T. oolitica was added to the IUCN Red List in 2007 as a result of loss in habitat and restricted range.

The short-tailed snake is a small harmless colubrid snake. Fossorial and seldom seen, it is found only in sandy, upland parts of Florida where it is listed as Threatened and is protected by state law.

The eastern worm snake is a subspecies of the worm snake, Carphophis amoenus, a nonvenomous colubrid endemic to the Eastern Woodlands region of North America. The species' range extends from southwest Massachusetts, south to southern Alabama, west to Louisiana and north to Illinois. This species is common in the ecotone between woodlands and wetlands. It may also be found in grasslands adjacent to woodlands. Though this snake can be abundant in parts of its range, it is rarely seen because of its fossorial lifestyle. When not underground, C. a. amoenus resides mostly under rocks, logs and leaf litter, or burrowed within rotting woody debris. This snake is perfectly safe to pick up, as it cannot bite, but may produce a foul-smelling excretion.

Masticophis flagellum flagellum, commonly known as the Eastern coachwhip, is a subspecies of M. flagellum, a nonvenomous, colubrid snake, endemic to the southern United States.

The midwestern worm snake, Carphophis amoenus helenae, a subspecies of C. amoenus, is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The subspecies is endemic to the Midwest and Southern United States.

Carphophis amoenus, commonly known as the worm snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to the eastern United States. C. amoenus can be found east of the Mississippi, from southwest Massachusetts south to southern Alabama west to Louisiana and then north to Illinois. This species of snake protects a large range, and normally prefers a moist habitat in the rocky woodlands, under rotten wood of logs and stumps. Though this snake is quite abundant over its range, it is rarely seen because of its dormant lifestyle and where it usually resides. This snake is most common on the edges or in the ecotonal areas of open to thick woodlands, and the borders of wetlands. It may also be found in the grasslands next to woodlands. The best chance to spot it is after heavy rains, when its small size and distinct color make it easy to spot. This species prefers moist soil inhabited by earthworms, which are its main prey, so the soil needs to be sufficiently moist. The snake's skin naturally evaporates water; so the soil needs to be moist enough to offset this. C. amoenus is mostly found under rocks and in sufficient leaf litter during the extreme daytime heat. Peak activity falls between 15:00 to 18:00.

References

↑ Hammerson, G.A. (2007). "Tantilla relicta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2007: e.T63956A12731453. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63956A12731453.en . Retrieved 20 July 2023.
↑ U.S. Geological Survey (2017). "Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta) rFCSNx_CONUS_2001v1 Range Map". Gap Analysis Project. doi:10.5066/F78W3C8B.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Central Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta)". Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. University of Georgia. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 Gibbons, Whit; Dorcas, Mike (2005). Snakes of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0820326528.
↑ Smith, Hobart M.; Brodie, Edmund D., Jr. (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback), ISBN 0-307-47009-1 (hardcover). (Tantilla relicta, pp. 172-173).
1 2 "Florida crowned snake". Florida Dept of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
↑ Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xvii + 429 pp. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Tantilla relicta, pp. 220-222, Figure 67 + Plate 33 + Map 164).
↑ "Tantilla relicta ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Tantilla relicta neilli, p. 188).