Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake

About the Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake

Is the Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake venomous?

No. The Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake (Antillotyphlops platycephalus) 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 Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake dangerous?

The Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake live?

The Puerto Rican White-tailed Blindsnake has verified records in 3 countries, including Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, French Guiana. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Typhlopidae snakes

• 
  Puerto Rican Coastal Blindsnake
  Antillotyphlops hypomethes
• 
  Dominican Worm Snake
  Antillotyphlops dominicanus
• 
  Leeward Blindsnake
  Antillotyphlops geotomus
• 
  Brown-backed Blind Snake
  Antillotyphlops catapontus
• 
  Montserrat Worm Snake
  Antillotyphlops monastus
• 
  Richard's Worm Snake
  Antillotyphlops richardii
• No photo
  Saint Barts Blindsnake
  Antillotyphlops annae
• No photo
  Mona Blind Snake
  Antillotyphlops monensis

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

Antillotyphlops

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

Antillotyphlops platycephalus

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.