CR

Three-banded Centipede Snake

Tantilla tritaeniata

Declining

Overview

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

Tantilla tritaeniata faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Colombia. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with remaining populations fragmented by infrastructure development. Mining activities and cattle ranching have further degraded suitable habitat, while the snake's secretive fossorial lifestyle makes population monitoring and conservation efforts challenging.

Threat summary

Habitat

This small snake inhabits dry forests and scrubland environments in the inter-Andean valleys of Colombia, typically found in leaf litter and loose soil where it pursues its fossorial lifestyle. The species shows preference for areas with adequate ground cover and organic debris that support its invertebrate prey base.

Marine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Three-banded Centipede Snake classified as Critically Endangered?
Three-banded Centipede 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 tritaeniata faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Colombia. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with remaining populations fragmented by infrastructure development. Mining activities and cattle ranching have further degraded suitable habitat, while the snake's secretive fossorial lifestyle makes population monitoring and conservation efforts challenging.
Where does Three-banded Centipede Snake live?
Three-banded Centipede Snake occurs in Honduras. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Three-banded Centipede Snake?
The main threats to Three-banded Centipede Snake are 1.3, 11.4, 4.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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