Species Reptiles & AmphibiansBanded Centipede Snake

Banded Centipede Snake

Tantilla planiceps

UncommonReptile & Amphibian
Illustration of Banded Centipede Snake (Tantilla planiceps)

The Western Black-headed Snake is a tiny, secretive snake with a distinctive dark cap on its head. It is a burrower found under rocks and debris. Mildly venomous but harmless to humans.

Habitat
Rocky chaparral, grassland, and coastal scrub in California and the Southwest
Diet
Centipedes and insect larvae
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Banded Centipede Snake

The best time to see a Banded Centipede Snake is February–June, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 496 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Banded Centipede Snake sightings near you

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