Porras and Wilson (1979) suggest that large scorpions (Centruroides gracilis) that may be extremely plentiful where Rim Rock Crowned Snakes occur are potential predators of these snakes. They also suggest that these snakes probably feed at least in part on small centipedes.
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) is nocturnal and is most often discovered under loose palm fronds, boards, or rocks (Behler 1979).
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) is the only member of the Blackhead Snake (Tantilla) group in extreme southern Florida. This small, secretive snake is more or less confined to sandy soils in flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, vacant lots, and pastures of the rim rock (oolitic limestone) area paralleling the coast of extreme southeastern Florida. (Conant and Collins 1991)
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) is threatened primarily by habitat loss due to development (Porras and Wilson 1979).
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) is found from Dade County south to Key Largo, Florida, U.S.A. (Conant and Collins 1991).
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) is more or less confined to sandy soils in pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, vacant lots, and pastures of the rim rock (oolitic limestone) area paralleling the coast of extreme southeastern Florida (Conant and Collins 1991).
The cavities in the limestone substratum probably provide a refugium for the semifossorial Tantilla oolitica from hot, dry weather and from potential predators (fossorial animals are those adapted for burrowing and/or living underground). It seems likely that T. oolitica emerges from these refugia principally during and after rain. (Porras and Wilson 1979)
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) was listed as Threatened by the State of Florida in 1975 and as a Species of Management Concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Scott 2004).
Each hemipenis in the male Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) has two basal hooks rather than the single one found in all other Tantilla from the Florida Peninsula (Conant and Collins 1991).
Tantilla species have 15 rows of smooth scales throughout the length of the body and a divided anal plate; most species have a black cap on the head. There is no loreal, 1 preocular, and 1 anterior temporal scale. The head is flat-topped. (Smith and Brodie 1982; Conant and Collins 1991)
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) is tan with a white belly (Behler 1979). The head pattern is similar to that of the Central Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta neilli). The black on the head is continuous from snout to neck, except that Key Largo specimens may have a broken light crossband separating a black head cap from a black collar. This small snake is about 18 to 23 cm in length (record 29 cm). (Conant and Collins 1991) Hatchlings are about 7.5 cm long (Scott 2004).
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) probably reaches sexual maturity at 3 years of age. The female lays a clutch of 1 to 3 eggs, probably in early summer. (Behler 1979)
The Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica), which was described as a distinct species by Telford in 1966, was formerly known as Tantilla coronata wagneri (Telford 1966; Porras and Wilson 1979).
The diet of Tantilla snakes includes centipedes and insect larvae that live underground (Conant and Collins 1991).
The rim rock crowned snake (Tantilla oolitica), named after the Miami Rim Rock land arrangement, is a non-venomous endangered species of snake belonging to the family Colubridae. The rim rock crowned snake is endemic to the United States throughout southern Florida. The specific name, oolitica, refers to the oolitic limestone area of Florida in which the species is found.[3] All species of snakes that belong to the genus Tantilla, are relatively small and usually do not exceed 20 cm (8 in). The species T. oolitica was added to the IUCN Red List in 2007 as a result of loss in habitat and restricted range.
T. oolitica is found in Dade County and Monroe County of Florida and the Florida Keys, including Eastern Rock Rim of Miami.[1]
The rim rock crowned snake is a relatively small species. The maximum recorded total length (including tail) is 29 cm (11.5 in).[4] The top of the head is black. The body is tan to beige dorsally, and white ventrally.[4]
T. oolitica preys upon spiders, centipedes, worms, insects and their larvae, and even scorpions.[5] At least 1 mortality from consuming centipedes has been reported.[6]
T. oolitica is oviparous.[7] Clutch size is small, only one to three eggs (Behler & King, 1979).
The rim rock crowned snake tends to inhabit areas with rocky and sandy soils in pine flatwoods, and tropical hardwood hammocks.[1] The snake can less commonly be found inside crevices of limestone, under foliage, and in suburban areas.[8]
In 2007 the species T. oolitica was added to the IUCN Red List, as a result of loss in habitat and restricted range. Due to Miami's ever growing city, fragmentation is the main threat to the rim rock crowned snake. Roughly 2% of the historical pine rocklands located on the Miami rock ridge still exist. Also the hardwood hammocks in Dade county and the remainder of Florida have been diminished to about half of what they once were.[9] Populations near the Keys also face major issues concerning habitat flooding from severe storms. Today the species is under the Florida endangered and threatened species rule.[1]
The rim rock crowned snake (Tantilla oolitica), named after the Miami Rim Rock land arrangement, is a non-venomous endangered species of snake belonging to the family Colubridae. The rim rock crowned snake is endemic to the United States throughout southern Florida. The specific name, oolitica, refers to the oolitic limestone area of Florida in which the species is found. All species of snakes that belong to the genus Tantilla, are relatively small and usually do not exceed 20 cm (8 in). The species T. oolitica was added to the IUCN Red List in 2007 as a result of loss in habitat and restricted range.
