Typhlopidae
Coffee Worm Snake
HarmlessAmerotyphlops tenuis
3 photographs of the Coffee Worm Snake. (c) Cristian Miguel Alvarez Vargas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Coffee Worm Snake (Amerotyphlops tenuis) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Typhlopidae
About the Coffee Worm Snake
The coffee worm snake (Amerotyphlops tenuis) is a harmless blind snake species found in Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Geographic range
It is found from Mexico (Veracruz) south to Guatemala (Alta and Baja Verapaz). Earlier sources also include Honduras whereas recent ones do not, the Honduran endemic Amerotyphlops stadelmani was formerly included in this species. The type locality given is "Coban [Cobán, Alta Verapaz] in Guatemala".
Habitat
The species occurs in moist forests, degraded forests, and agricultural land from sea level to 800 m (2,600 ft) above sea level. As a fossorial species, it is difficult to find, but it can be locally common.
Conservation status
It is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is unknown. Year assessed: 2007.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Coffee Worm Snake
- Is the Coffee Worm Snake venomous?
- No. The Coffee Worm Snake (Amerotyphlops tenuis) 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 Coffee Worm Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Coffee Worm Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Coffee Worm Snake dangerous?
- The Coffee Worm Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Coffee Worm Snake live?
- The Coffee Worm Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Typhlopidae snakes
Reticulate Worm SnakeAmerotyphlops reticulatus
Brongersma's Worm SnakeAmerotyphlops brongersmianus
Yucatecan Worm SnakeAmerotyphlops microstomus
Honduras Worm SnakeAmerotyphlops tycherus
Pernambuco Worm SnakeAmerotyphlops paucisquamus
Grenada Worm SnakeAmerotyphlops tasymicris
Amerotyphlops amoipiraAmerotyphlops amoipira
Amerotyphlops arenensisAmerotyphlops arenensis
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
- Typhlopidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Amerotyphlops
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Amerotyphlops tenuis
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.