Florida crowned snake

The Florida crowned snake (Tantilla relicta) is a species of colubrid snake endemic to Florida. 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.

Florida crowned snake
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[1]

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.[2][3] The maximum recorded total length of the species is 24 cm (9.5 in).[4] The nose may be cream-tan in color in populations found along the Atlantic Coast.[5]

Natural habitat

Florida crowned snake in central Florida.

The florida crowned snake is commonly found in north and central Florida, and in sandy habitat areas of the Gulf coast.[6] The species is seen rarely in the southernmost border area of Georgia.[2] It is most often associated with sandy habitats, including Florida sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods and pine hammocks.[3]

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.[2][5] 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[3] This species is the primary food for the rare short-tailed snake (Lampropeltis extenuata).[2]

Taxonomy

Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.[7] The subspecific name, neilli, is in honor of American herpetologist Wilfred T. Neill.[8]

• Tantilla relicta neilli Telford, 1966
• Tantilla relicta pamlica Telford, 1966
• Tantilla relicta relicta Telford, 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.[3] 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.[2]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey (2017). "Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta) rFCSNx_CONUS_2001v1 Range Map". Gap Analysis Project. doi:10.5066/F78W3C8B.
2. "Central Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta)". Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. University of Georgia. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
3. Gibbons, Whit; Dorcas, Mike (2005). Snakes of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0820326528.
4. 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).
5. "Florida crowned snake". Florida Dept of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
6. 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).
7. "Tantilla relicta ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
8. 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).

Further reading

• Telford, Sam Rountree, Jr. (1966). "Variation among the southeastern crowned snakes, genus Tantilla ". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum 10 (7): 261–304. ("Tantilla relicta new species", pp. 270–271).