Genus · Colubridae
Gomesophis
The genus Gomesophis contains a single species. It is not considered dangerous to humans.
About Brazilian burrowing snakes
A single small, secretive South American snake built for a life spent under leaf litter and damp soil.
Gomesophis is a monotypic genus, meaning it contains just one recognized species, the Brazilian burrowing snake (Gomesophis brasiliensis). It belongs to the family Colubridae, the largest and most varied snake family in the world. Within that family it sits among a group of small, semifossorial South American snakes adapted to living in and just below the ground rather than out in the open. It is found in southern and southeastern Brazil and nearby parts of the Atlantic Forest region, where it favors moist habitats such as marshy ground, wet grasslands, and the soft soil and leaf litter of forest edges.
Members of this genus are small and slender with smooth, glossy scales and a head that is barely distinct from the neck, a body plan typical of snakes that push through soil and debris. Coloration tends toward muted browns and grays that blend with damp earth and litter. Because it spends most of its time hidden, it is rarely seen, and casual observers are far more likely to encounter it after heavy rain or while turning over logs and ground cover than out in the open. Its retiring, burrowing habits are the most reliable way to recognize what it is and where it lives.
Like most colubrids in this lineage, the Brazilian burrowing snake is not considered dangerous to people and is not a front-fanged venomous species. Its diet centers on small soft-bodied prey such as earthworms, slugs, and amphibians it finds in moist soil, and it is known to give birth to live young rather than lay eggs, which is consistent with several snakes adapted to cool, damp southern habitats. Even with harmless snakes, the safe practice is to observe without handling and let the animal move on. If anyone is ever bitten by a snake they cannot confidently identify, treat it as a medical situation and contact emergency services or, in the US, Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Gomesophis belongs to the Colubridae family (Colubrids). The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to. Typically round pupils, a head only slightly wider than the neck, and no heat-sensing facial pit or rattle. Scales may be smooth and glossy or keeled and matte depending on the species.
Danger: Almost all colubrids are harmless. A small number are rear-fanged with medically significant venom, the boomslang and the twig (vine) snakes of Africa being the dangerous exceptions. Most colubrids will flee or bluff rather than bite.
All species (1)
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