Is the Incognito Thread Snake venomous?

No. The Incognito Thread Snake (Leptotyphlops incognitus) 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 Incognito Thread Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Incognito Thread Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Incognito Thread Snake dangerous?

The Incognito Thread Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Incognito Thread Snake live?

The Incognito Thread Snake has verified records in 5 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Leptotyphlopidae

Incognito Thread Snake

Harmless

Leptotyphlops incognitus

2 photographs of the Incognito Thread Snake. (c) Justin Ponder, some rights reserved (CC BY).

The Incognito Thread Snake (Leptotyphlops incognitus) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 5 countries.

Family: Leptotyphlopidae

About the Incognito Thread Snake

The Incognito Thread Snake belongs to the Leptotyphlopidae family, slender blindsnakes (threadsnakes). Among the smallest snakes in the world, thin as a thread.

Threadsnakes are minuscule burrowing snakes, some no thicker than a pencil lead, that hunt ant and termite colonies. The family includes the Barbados threadsnake, often cited as the smallest snake species known.

Its genus, Leptotyphlops, covers slender blind snakes (thread snakes). Tiny, worm-like burrowers so thin and smooth they look more like a strand of thread than a snake.

The Incognito Thread Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.

It has been recorded in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Incognito Thread Snake

Is the Incognito Thread Snake venomous?: No. The Incognito Thread Snake (Leptotyphlops incognitus) 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 Incognito Thread Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Incognito Thread Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Incognito Thread Snake dangerous?: The Incognito Thread Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Incognito Thread Snake live?: The Incognito Thread Snake has verified records in 5 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

South Africa Zimbabwe Mozambique Zambia Malawi

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: Leptotyphlops
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Leptotyphlops incognitus

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.