New records of the Yucatecan Dwarf Short-tailed Snake, (Tantillita canula) Cope 1875 (Squamata: Colubridae), in Southern Mexico

Researchers document the first recorded presence of the Yucatecan Dwarf Short-tailed Snake (Tantillita canula) within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, expanding its known range in Mexico. This small, secretive snake (SVL 145 mm) was observed crossing a trail during a nocturnal herpetofaunal survey, providing critical field data for a species with poorly understood ecology. The discovery also includes the first record of T. canula from Tabasco state, further clarifying its distribution within the Yucatán Peninsula Biogeographic Province. The study employed photographic documentation and voucher specimen deposition to validate observations, contributing to conservation efforts for this endemic reptile.

Nahuat Cervera, P. E., Jesús-Espinosa, D., & Contreras-Moreno, F. M. (2024). New records of the Yucatecan Dwarf Short-tailed Snake, (Tantillita canula) Cope 1875 (Squamata: Colubridae), in Southern Mexico. Reptiles & Amphibians, 31(1), e21813. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v31i1.21813