Their ventral scales are white with a pink or orange mid-line.

[3] It is readily distinguished from the Chihuahuan (T. wilcoxi) and Yaqui (T. yaquia) black-headed snakes by the absence of a light neck collar.

They are often found in rocky or grassy prairies, or hillsides where the soil is moist.

The Plains black-headed snake is often secretive and can be found seeking refuge in leaf-litter or in small burrows, while being surface active at night.

It has been collected from February into September in Arizona, but most are found in August.