Florida Crowned Snake

(Tantilla relicta)

 

Color Photograph © by and courtesy of Kenneth L. Krysko, Florida Museum of Natural History

 

Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta)

Identification: Snake 5 to 8 inches in length. Body color light brown to red-brown. Crown of head black, black usually extending downward to the rear angle of the mouth. Neck with a light color following the black crown, and margined at its rear by a distinct black band. Belly white. Scales smooth and anal plate divided.

Geographical Variation:

Peninsula Crowned Snake (T. r. relicta): A light collar separating head and neck present, but interrupted by black at the midline. Range: Northern and western regions of the species from Marion County in the west to Polk County in the east with scattered isolated populations along the western coast of Florida.

Central Florida Crowned Snake (T. r. neilli): Head and neck without a light collar, black ending 3 or 4 scales behind the shield scales of the head. Range: Florida, from the Suwannee River to Hillsborough and Polk Counties and eastward to the St. Johns River.

Coastal Dunes Crowned Snake (T. r. pamlica): A distinct and broad light collar between the head and neck. Range: Found along the eastern coast from Cape Canaveral to Palm Beach County.

Range (see map on left): The Florida Crowned Snake occurs primarily in central Florida, but scattered populations are also found along the southwestern coast of the state.

Habitat: The species is found in sandy soils including sand dunes, pine forest on sandy soils, sandhills and dunes. The species has also been found, however, in hammocks.

Food: Insects and other small invertebrates.

Behavior: The species burrows in sand. The species is sometimes associated with the burrows of pocket gophers.

Reproduction:  The clutch consists of 1 to 3 eggs laid in late spring and early summer.

 

Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta)

Similar Species: Two other species occur in Florida, the Southeastern Crowned Snake and the Rim Rock Crowned Snake. The species are best separated by distribution.

Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata)

Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica)

 

 

Similar Species: