Leptotyphlopidae
Cairo Blind Snake
HarmlessMyriopholis cairi


2 photographs of the Cairo Blind Snake. (c) Sarah Wahby, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Cairo Blind Snake (Myriopholis cairi) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 7 countries.
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
About the Cairo Blind Snake
The Cairo blind snake is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Cairo Blind Snake
- Is the Cairo Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Cairo Blind Snake (Myriopholis cairi) 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 Cairo Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Cairo Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Cairo Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Cairo Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Cairo Blind Snake live?
- The Cairo Blind Snake has verified records in 7 countries, including Egypt, Niger, Sudan. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Leptotyphlopidae snakes
Hook-snouted worm snakeMyriopholis macrorhyncha
Long-tailed Thread SnakeMyriopholis longicauda
Gambia Blind SnakeMyriopholis algeriensis
Nurse's Blind SnakeMyriopholis nursii
Sahel Thread SnakeMyriopholis narirostris
Sindh Thread SnakeMyriopholis blanfordi
Ionides’ worm snakeMyriopholis ionidesi
Boulenger's Blind SnakeMyriopholis macrura
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
- Myriopholis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Myriopholis cairi
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. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.