Is the Ionides’ worm snake venomous?

No. The Ionides’ worm snake (Myriopholis ionidesi) 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 Ionides’ worm snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Ionides’ worm snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Ionides’ worm snake dangerous?

The Ionides’ worm snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Ionides’ worm snake live?

The Ionides’ worm snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Tanzania, United Republic of, Mozambique, Malawi. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Leptotyphlopidae

Ionides’ worm snake

Harmless

Myriopholis ionidesi

2 photographs of the Ionides’ worm snake. (c) Piotr Naskrecki, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Ionides’ worm snake (Myriopholis ionidesi) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 3 countries.

Family: Leptotyphlopidae

About the Ionides’ worm snake

The Ionides’ worm 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, Myriopholis, covers thread snakes. Myriopholis are tiny, worm-like burrowing snakes so slender and smooth that most people who see one mistake it for an earthworm rather than a snake.

The Ionides’ worm 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 Tanzania, United Republic of, Mozambique 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: Ionides’ worm snake

Is the Ionides’ worm snake venomous?: No. The Ionides’ worm snake (Myriopholis ionidesi) 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 Ionides’ worm snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Ionides’ worm snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Ionides’ worm snake dangerous?: The Ionides’ worm snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Ionides’ worm snake live?: The Ionides’ worm snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Tanzania, United Republic of, Mozambique, Malawi. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Tanzania, United Republic of Mozambique 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: Myriopholis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Myriopholis ionidesi

Keep learning

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