Typhlopidae
Müller's Blind Snake
HarmlessArgyrophis muelleri
2 photographs of the Müller's Blind Snake. (c) Chris Oldnall, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA).
The Müller's Blind Snake (Argyrophis muelleri) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 24 countries.
- Family
- Typhlopidae
About the Müller's Blind Snake
The Müller's Blind Snake belongs to the Typhlopidae family, blindsnakes. Tiny, worm-like burrowing snakes that raid ant and termite nests.
Blindsnakes are small, shiny, cylindrical snakes that spend their lives underground. Their eyes are reduced to dark spots beneath the head scales, and they feed mostly on the eggs and larvae of ants and termites. They are completely harmless.
Its genus, Argyrophis, covers blind snakes. Small, glossy, worm-like burrowers that spend almost their whole lives underground.
The Müller's Blind 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 across 24 countries, including Thailand, South Africa, Malaysia, Dominican Republic and Viet Nam.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Müller's Blind Snake
- Is the Müller's Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Müller's Blind Snake (Argyrophis muelleri) 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 Müller's Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Müller's Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Müller's Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Müller's Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Müller's Blind Snake live?
- The Müller's Blind Snake has verified records in 24 countries, including Thailand, South Africa, Malaysia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Typhlopidae snakes
Diard's BlindsnakeArgyrophis diardii
Siamese Blind SnakeArgyrophis siamensis
Brahminy BlindsnakeIndotyphlops braminus
Eurasian Blind SnakeXerotyphlops vermicularis
Syrian Blind SnakeXerotyphlops syriacus
Bibron's Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops bibronii
Delalande's Beaked Blind SnakeRhinotyphlops lalandei
Blackish Blind SnakeAnilios nigrescens
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
- Argyrophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Argyrophis muelleri
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.