Puerto Rican Worm Snake

About the Puerto Rican Worm Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Puerto Rican Worm Snake

Is the Puerto Rican Worm Snake venomous?

No. The Puerto Rican Worm Snake (Typhlops rostellatus) 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 Worm Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Puerto Rican Worm Snake dangerous?

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

Where does the Puerto Rican Worm Snake live?

The Puerto Rican Worm Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Puerto Rico. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Typhlopidae snakes

• 
  Jamaica Worm Snake
  Typhlops jamaicensis
• 
  Hispaniola Worm Snake
  Typhlops pusillus
• 
  Earthworm Blind Snake
  Typhlops lumbricalis
• 
  Schwartz' Worm Snake
  Typhlops schwartzi
• 
  Island Worm Snake
  Typhlops sulcatus
• 
  Brahminy Blindsnake
  Indotyphlops braminus
• 
  Eurasian Blind Snake
  Xerotyphlops vermicularis
• No photo
  Tiburon Peninsula Blindsnake
  Typhlops hectus

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

Typhlops

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

Typhlops rostellatus

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.