Leptotyphlopidae
Epictia phenops
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
4 photographs of the Epictia phenops. © Juan Rafael Rodríguez Razgado.
Epictia phenops is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 4 countries.
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
About the Epictia phenops
Epictia phenops, also known as slender threadsnake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. It is probably a composite taxon consisting of several cryptic species.
Distribution
E. phenops is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and southern Mexico. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, from savanna to montane rainforest.
Morphology
The species has a mean total length of 132 mm, though specimens can be as short as 53 mm, but as long as 195 mm.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Epictia phenops
- Is the Epictia phenops venomous?
- No. The Epictia phenops 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 Epictia phenops poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Epictia phenops is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Epictia phenops dangerous?
- The Epictia phenops is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Epictia phenops live?
- The Epictia phenops has verified records in 4 countries, including Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador. 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 phenops
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.