T. coronata is a small, slender snake, greyish-brown or solid light brown in color. It has a black, pointed head with a yellowish or cream band between the head and the neck. This is followed by a black collar 3 to 5 scales wide. The remainder of the back is reddish brown. The belly is light pink or solid white.[3] It has smooth dorsal scales in 15 rows and a divided anal plate.[1] Adults average 20–25 cm (8-10 inches) in total length.[4]
The snake is active during the day during the warmer months of the year, and can be found underneath rocks, logs and organic litter. It hibernates during the coldest months of winter, but is active beneath organic litter on warm winter days. The snake travels overland at night, generally during the hours of early evening. It is considered a skilled burrower in sandy soil, and appears to "swim" in the sand when attempting to escape capture.[3]
The snake feeds on several kinds of small prey, including termites, worms, centipedes, earth-dwelling insectlarvae, and spiders.[6] In the back of the snake's jaw are small, chiseled fangs that are used to inject venom into their prey. All crowned snakes are assumed to be non-venomous to humans.[3]
Reproductionedit
The southeastern crown snake is oviparous, generally laying 1-3 eggs per clutch. Mating occurs in the months from spring through fall. Females that mate in the fall store sperm until the following spring. Females lay their eggs typically in June and July. The eggs hatch in the fall.[3][7]
Predators and defenseedit
Southeastern crown snakes are preyed upon by many carnivorousvertebrates that live in forested habitats. Their most common predator is the kingsnake and coral snake. The snake will attempt to burrow in the sand when threatened, or by crawling beneath organic litter and other debris. The snake does not bite when captured, but releases a foul-smelling musk from their scent glands.[3]
Conservation statusedit
In most areas of its range, the southeastern crown snake is not considered to be a conservation risk. In Indiana, the snake is listed as an endangered species.[8] Damage or destruction to their forested habitats will have an adverse effect on the future population of the species.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abBoulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ),... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Homalocranium coronatum, pp. 218-219.)
^Stejneger, L., and T. Barbour. 1917. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 125 pp. (Tantilla coronata, p. 105.)
^ abcdefgGibbons, Whit; Dorcas, Mike (2005). Snakes of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. ISBN978-0820326528.
^ abConant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. xviii + 429 pp. ISBN0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Tantilla coronata, pp. 219-220 + Plate33 + Map 163.)
^Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 365 pp. (Tantilla coronata, pp. 270-271, Figure 89.)
^"Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata) at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory". Retrieved March 22, 2013.
^Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011), "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians", Indiana Administrative Code, retrieved April 28, 2012
Further readingedit
Baird, S.F., and C.F. Girard. 1853. Catalogue of the North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents. Smithsonian Institution. Washington, District of Columbia. xvi + 172 pp. (Tantilla coronata, p. 131.)
Conant, R., and W. Bridges. 1939. What Snake Is That? A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. D. Appleton-Century. New York and London. Frontispiece map + viii + 163 pp. + Plates A-C, 1-32. (Tantilla coronata, pp. 129–130 + Plate C, Figure 13 + Plate 25, Figure 75.)
Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. ISBN0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Tantilla coronata, pp. 170–171.)
Wright, A.H., and A.A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Comstock. Ithaca and London. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes) (Tantilla coronata, pp. 728–737, Figures 213. & 214., Map 56.)
April 08, 2024
southeastern, crown, snake, southeastern, crown, snake, tantilla, coronata, common, species, small, colubrid, snake, endemic, southeastern, united, states, tantilla, coronata, floridaconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, e. The southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata is a common species of small colubrid snake endemic to the southeastern United States Southeastern crown snakeTantilla coronata in FloridaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ColubridaeGenus TantillaSpecies T coronataBinomial nameTantilla coronataBaird amp Girard 1853SynonymsTantilla coronata Baird amp Girard 1853 Homalocranium wagneri Jan 1862 Homalocranium coronatum Boulenger 1896 Tantilla coronata Cope 1900 1 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Natural habitat 3 Behavior and diet 4 Reproduction 5 Predators and defense 6 Conservation status 7 References 8 Further readingDescription editT coronata is a small slender snake greyish brown or solid light brown in color It has a black pointed head with a yellowish or cream band between the head and the neck This is followed by a black collar 3 to 5 scales wide The remainder of the back is reddish brown The belly is light pink or solid white 3 It has smooth dorsal scales in 15 rows and a divided anal plate 1 Adults average 20 25 cm 8 10 inches in total length 4 Natural habitat editThe snake is found in Alabama northwestern Florida Georgia extreme southern Indiana western Kentucky eastern Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee and south central Virginia 4 5 The largest populations of the species is found in areas with sandy or loose soils and plentiful organic litter The southeastern crown snake is commonly found in both damp and dry woodland habitats 3 Behavior and diet editThe snake is active during the day during the warmer months of the year and can be found underneath rocks logs and organic litter It hibernates during the coldest months of winter but is active beneath organic litter on warm winter days The snake travels overland at night generally during the hours of early evening It is considered a skilled burrower in sandy soil and appears to swim in the sand when attempting to escape capture 3 The snake feeds on several kinds of small prey including termites worms centipedes earth dwelling insect larvae and spiders 6 In the back of the snake s jaw are small chiseled fangs that are used to inject venom into their prey All crowned snakes are assumed to be non venomous to humans 3 Reproduction editThe southeastern crown snake is oviparous generally laying 1 3 eggs per clutch Mating occurs in the months from spring through fall Females that mate in the fall store sperm until the following spring Females lay their eggs typically in June and July The eggs hatch in the fall 3 7 Predators and defense editSoutheastern crown snakes are preyed upon by many carnivorous vertebrates that live in forested habitats Their most common predator is the kingsnake and coral snake The snake will attempt to burrow in the sand when threatened or by crawling beneath organic litter and other debris The snake does not bite when captured but releases a foul smelling musk from their scent glands 3 Conservation status editIn most areas of its range the southeastern crown snake is not considered to be a conservation risk In Indiana the snake is listed as an endangered species 8 Damage or destruction to their forested habitats will have an adverse effect on the future population of the species 3 References edit a b Boulenger G A 1896 Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum Natural History Volume III Containing the Colubridae Opisthoglyphae and Proteroglyphae Trustees of the British Museum Natural History Taylor and Francis Printers London xiv 727 pp Plates I XXV Homalocranium coronatum pp 218 219 Stejneger L and T Barbour 1917 A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles Harvard University Press Cambridge Massachusetts 125 pp Tantilla coronata p 105 a b c d e f g Gibbons Whit Dorcas Mike 2005 Snakes of the Southeast University of Georgia Press ISBN 978 0820326528 a b Conant R 1975 A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America Second Edition Houghton Mifflin Boston xviii 429 pp ISBN 0 395 19979 4 hardcover ISBN 0 395 19977 8 paperback Tantilla coronata pp 219 220 Plate33 Map 163 The Reptile Database www reptile database org Schmidt K P and D D Davis 1941 Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada G P Putnam s Sons New York 365 pp Tantilla coronata pp 270 271 Figure 89 Southeastern Crowned Snake Tantilla coronata at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Retrieved March 22 2013 Indiana Legislative Services Agency 2011 312 IAC 9 5 4 Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians Indiana Administrative Code retrieved April 28 2012Further reading editBaird S F and C F Girard 1853 Catalogue of the North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution Part I Serpents Smithsonian Institution Washington District of Columbia xvi 172 pp Tantilla coronata p 131 Conant R and W Bridges 1939 What Snake Is That A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains D Appleton Century New York and London Frontispiece map viii 163 pp Plates A C 1 32 Tantilla coronata pp 129 130 Plate C Figure 13 Plate 25 Figure 75 Smith H M and E D Brodie Jr 1982 Reptiles of North America A Guide to Field Identification Golden Press New York ISBN 0 307 13666 3 paperback Tantilla coronata pp 170 171 Wright A H and A A Wright 1957 Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada Comstock Ithaca and London 1 105 pp in 2 volumes Tantilla coronata pp 728 737 Figures 213 amp 214 Map 56 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southeastern crown snake amp oldid 1171560138, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
