Typhlopidae
Dark-spined Blind Snake
HarmlessAnilios bicolor
6 photographs of the Dark-spined Blind Snake. © Max Tibby.
The Dark-spined Blind Snake (Anilios bicolor) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Typhlopidae
About the Dark-spined Blind Snake
Anilios bicolor, also known as the dark-spined blind snake, is a species of blind snake that is endemic to southern Australia. The specific epithet bicolor (“two-coloured”) refers to the snake's appearance.
Description
The species grows to an average of about 42 cm in length.
Behaviour
Anilios bicolor is a fossorial species that inhabits sandy to loamy soils. The species is oviparous.
Distribution and habitat
The snake is found in extreme south-eastern Western Australia, much of southern South Australia, western New South Wales and north-western Victoria. The type locality is Adelaide. It typically lives in forests and shrublands, but it is thought to be not dependent on any specific vegetation type.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Dark-spined Blind Snake
- Is the Dark-spined Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Dark-spined Blind Snake (Anilios bicolor) 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 Dark-spined Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Dark-spined Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Dark-spined Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Dark-spined Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Dark-spined Blind Snake live?
- The Dark-spined Blind Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Australia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Typhlopidae snakes
Blackish Blind SnakeAnilios nigrescens
Prong-snouted Blind SnakeAnilios bituberculatus
Southern Blind SnakeAnilios australis
Long-beaked Blind SnakeAnilios grypus
Interior Blind SnakeAnilios endoterus
Robust Blind SnakeAnilios ligatus
Rotund Blind SnakeAnilios pinguis
North-eastern Blind SnakeAnilios torresianus
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
- Anilios
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Anilios bicolor
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.