Tantilla petersi
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
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.
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.
