Genus · Anomalepididae
Helminthophis
The genus Helminthophis contains a single species. It is not considered dangerous to humans.
About dawn blind snakes
Tiny burrowing blind snakes from Central and northern South America that spend nearly their whole lives underground hunting ant and termite brood.
Helminthophis is a small genus in the family Anomalepididae, the dawn blind snakes, a group of primitive burrowing snakes found only in the New World tropics. The genus holds just a few described species, including the Costa Rica blind snake (Helminthophis frontalis). These are not true threadsnakes or typhlopid blind snakes despite a similar look and lifestyle. Anomalepidids form their own ancient lineage near the base of the snake family tree, which makes Helminthophis interesting well beyond its small size.
Members of this genus are slender, worm-like snakes a few inches long with smooth, glossy, cylindrical bodies and a blunt head built for pushing through soil. The eyes are reduced to dark spots under the head scales, so they sense light and dark rather than form images, and the mouth is small and tucked under the snout. Many have a pale or light-colored marking on the head against a darker body. They live in moist forest soil, leaf litter, and rotting wood across Costa Rica, Panama, and parts of northern South America, where they are rarely seen because they almost never come to the surface except after heavy rain.
These snakes are completely harmless to people. They are not venomous, they do not bite defensively in any meaningful way, and their tiny mouths are made for eating soft-bodied prey such as ant and termite eggs, larvae, and pupae. Like other blind snakes they are believed to lay small clutches of eggs. If you find one while digging or turning over wood, it poses no danger, though as with any wild animal the kind thing is to leave it in its damp habitat. For any genuine snakebite emergency, contact local emergency services or US Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Helminthophis belongs to the Anomalepididae family (Dawn blindsnakes). Primitive, tiny burrowing snakes of the American tropics. Tiny, shiny, and worm-like, with vestigial eyes.
Danger: Harmless.
All species (1)
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