Typhlopidae
North-eastern Blind Snake
HarmlessAnilios torresianus
6 photographs of the North-eastern Blind Snake. © Matthew Borella.
The North-eastern Blind Snake (Anilios torresianus) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Typhlopidae
About the North-eastern Blind Snake
Anilios torresianus, also known as the Torres Strait blind snake or north-eastern blind snake (and, formerly, the southern New Guinea blind snake) is a species of blind snake that is native to Australia and New Guinea. The specific epithet torresianus refers to the type locality.
Description
The snake grows to an average of about 25 cm, and a maximum of 40 cm, in length.
Behaviour
The species is oviparous.
Distribution
The species occurs in southern Papua New Guinea and along the north-eastern coast of Queensland. The type locality is Murray Island in the Torres Strait Island Region of Far North Queensland.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: North-eastern Blind Snake
- Is the North-eastern Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The North-eastern Blind Snake (Anilios torresianus) 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 North-eastern Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The North-eastern Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the North-eastern Blind Snake dangerous?
- The North-eastern Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the North-eastern Blind Snake live?
- The North-eastern Blind Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Typhlopidae snakes
Blackish Blind SnakeAnilios nigrescens
Prong-snouted Blind SnakeAnilios bituberculatus
Southern Blind SnakeAnilios australis
Dark-spined Blind SnakeAnilios bicolor
Long-beaked Blind SnakeAnilios grypus
Interior Blind SnakeAnilios endoterus
Robust Blind SnakeAnilios ligatus
Rotund Blind SnakeAnilios pinguis
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
- Anilios
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Anilios torresianus
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.