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Flathead Snake
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- Order: Squamata (scaled reptiles)
- Suborder: Serpentes (=Ophidia) (snakes)
- Family: Colubridae ("typical"
snakes)
- Genus: Tantilla (flathead and
black-headed snakes)
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Scientific Name: Tantilla gracilis
Baird & Girard, 1853 |
| Habitat: Prairies and
wooded areas with moist soil and ground cover; below 2,000'
elevation. |
Tantillum="such a small thing," gracilis="graceful/slender"
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| Length: To just over 9.5
inches. |
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| Food: Small insects,
arthropods, and slugs. |
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| My friend Erik
and I found this snake on 22 March 2003 in a vacant lot in San
Antonio. It was under an old board. You can see that
when viewed from above, this species is fairly plain. |
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| This picture shows the pretty
orange belly on this snake. Flathead snakes forage at night,
and most people overlook them even though they may be found in
people's yards. By day, they hide under surface litter or
even deep underground. |
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