Field Herper.com

Field notes and photography by Bryan D. Hughes
Jun
27th
2011

Smith’s Black-Headed Snake

Here’s one of the tiny, ground dwelling species that are incredibly common throughout Arizona, Smith’s Black Headed Snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi). Of course they’re harmless, but they still scare a good amount of people around town since they’re able to easily gain entry into homes. Whenever I get a call from my snake removal service to remove a snake from INSIDE a home, it’s often one of these guys.

Tantilla coralsnakeseatmii

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6 Responses to “Smith’s Black-Headed Snake”

  1. Richard says:

    I love the species name in the post…coralsnakeseatmii. Made me chuckle. Great site by the way. If you are ever out on the west side let me know.

    Rich

  2. Crotalus says:

    I take it from the “scientific” name that it is considered snake bait?

  3. Crotalus says:

    Bryan, this is a reply from way back when, when we were talking about Carlsbad, NM. The Horse Crippler I know is a barrel-type cactus that is disc-shaped, and gets its name from the fact that it is flat with the ground, often hides in grass, and pierces the soft underside of a horse’s hoof. Its scientific name is Echinocactus texensis. The “agave-looking” plant to which you refer is really an Agave. It is Agave lechuguilla, and I understand that it has gained the name “Horse Crippler” in New Mexico because it can stab a horse around its fetlocks.

  4. Crotalus says:

    BTW, I usually call Agave lechuguilla “Shin Dagger”.

  5. Bryan says:

    Yikes, I totally get the reference. I stepped on one right as I began a hike that went right through my boot. Not the best way to start a day hike.

  6. Crotalus says:

    OWEEEE! Strong buggers, aren’t they?

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