Leptotyphlopidae
Black Blind Snake
HarmlessEpictia magnamaculata
6 photographs of the Black Blind Snake. © Court Harding.
The Black Blind Snake (Epictia magnamaculata) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 4 countries.
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
About the Black Blind Snake
The Black Blind Snake belongs to the Leptotyphlopidae family, slender blindsnakes (threadsnakes). Among the smallest snakes in the world, thin as a thread.
Threadsnakes are minuscule burrowing snakes, some no thicker than a pencil lead, that hunt ant and termite colonies. The family includes the Barbados threadsnake, often cited as the smallest snake species known.
Its genus, Epictia, covers blind snakes (threadsnakes). Epictia is a genus of tiny, worm-like threadsnakes that spend almost their whole lives underground hunting ants and termites.
The Black Blind Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.
It has been recorded in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Black Blind Snake
- Is the Black Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Black Blind Snake (Epictia magnamaculata) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Black Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Black Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Black Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Black Blind Snake live?
- The Black Blind Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including Colombia, Honduras, Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Leptotyphlopidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Leptotyphlopidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Epictia
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Epictia magnamaculata
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.