CR

Peters' Black-headed Snake

Tantilla petersi

Unknown

Overview

Tantilla petersi, also known commonly as Peters's black-headed snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Ecuador.

Tantilla petersi faces severe threats from rapid urban expansion and agricultural conversion throughout its extremely limited range in coastal Ecuador. The species' restriction to specific soil types and microhabitats makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as even small-scale development can eliminate entire local populations. Coastal development pressure and shrimp farming expansion have accelerated habitat loss in recent decades.

Threat summary

Habitat

This small snake inhabits dry coastal scrublands and semi-deciduous forests in western Ecuador, typically found in sandy soils and leaf litter at low elevations. The species appears to require specific microhabitat conditions including particular soil moisture levels and vegetation cover.

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

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Bourret's Cat SnakeEN

Bourret's Cat Snake

Boiga bourreti

Unknown
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Cave Racer

Elaphe taeniura

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Oligodon calamarius

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EN

Sumba Ground Snake

Stegonotus sutteri

Unknown

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Puya fastuosa

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Diospyros esmereg

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Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

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Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Peters' Black-headed Snake classified as Critically Endangered?
Peters' Black-headed Snake is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Tantilla petersi faces severe threats from rapid urban expansion and agricultural conversion throughout its extremely limited range in coastal Ecuador. The species' restriction to specific soil types and microhabitats makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as even small-scale development can eliminate entire local populations. Coastal development pressure and shrimp farming expansion have accelerated habitat loss in recent decades.
Where does Peters' Black-headed Snake live?
Peters' Black-headed Snake occurs in Ecuador. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Peters' Black-headed Snake?
The main threats to Peters' Black-headed Snake are 1.1, 2.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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