Southeastern Crowned Snake
Tantilla coronata
Size
8–10 in
Status
Endangered
Venomous
No
Region
Far S-C Indiana
A tiny, secretive burrowing snake with a dark "crown" on its head, at the northern edge of its range in Indiana. Harmless and state endangered.
Identification
A very small tan to reddish-brown snake with a black head and a black band across the neck, separated by a light collar. Adults are only 8–10 inches. It is smooth-scaled and slender.
Habitat & Diet
Lives underground and beneath rocks on dry, wooded hillsides, rarely appearing on the surface. It feeds on small invertebrates such as centipedes, insect larvae, and spiders, and has mild rear-fanged venom used only on prey — harmless to people.
Conservation in Indiana
State Endangered in Indiana, known from very few southern localities. Its underground habits make it hard to survey; rocky woodland habitat protection is essential.
Similar Species & Taxonomy
Told from the Ring-necked Snake by its black head cap and pale nape band in place of a complete neck ring, and by its plain tan body without a bright belly. A small crowned snake (family Colubridae, sometimes placed in the Dipsadidae) of the genus Tantilla, a large, mostly tropical group of secretive, mildly venomous snakes harmless to people. It is one of Indiana's rarest and least-seen snakes.
United States Range Map Distribution
Distribution in Indiana
