Leptotyphlopidae
Guyana Blind Snake
HarmlessEpictia tenella
6 photographs of the Guyana Blind Snake. © Jean-Paul Boerekamps.
The Guyana Blind Snake (Epictia tenella) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 10 countries.
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
About the Guyana Blind Snake
Epictia tenella, also known as the Guyana blind snake, is a species of blind snake found on Trinidad in the Caribbean, and in South America, where it ranges from Guyana south to Brazil and northwestern Peru.
It can reach a length of 170 mm (6-11/16 in) snout-to-vent. It has a medium brown dorsal surface, with a paler ventral surface and a yellow tail. Its head is dark except for a white to yellow spot covering the upper half of its rostral scale.
It is mesophilic. It burrows in damp soil and rotting vegetation, and possibly in ant and termite colonies. It feeds on ants, termites, millipedes, and eggs.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Guyana Blind Snake
- Is the Guyana Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Guyana Blind Snake (Epictia tenella) 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 Guyana Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Guyana Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Guyana Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Guyana Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Guyana Blind Snake live?
- The Guyana Blind Snake has verified records in 10 countries, including Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, French Guiana. 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 tenella
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.