Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake

About the Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake

Is the Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake venomous?

No. The Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake (Epictia munoai) 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 Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake dangerous?

The Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake live?

The Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Why is it called the Rio Grande do Sul Blind Snake?

The specific name, munoai, is in honor of Uruguayan zoologist Juan Ignacio Muñoa (1925–1960).

Where it is found

More Leptotyphlopidae snakes

• 
  Epictia borapeliotes
  Epictia borapeliotes
• 
  Taylor's Blind Snake
  Epictia ater
• 
  Latin American Blind Snake
  Epictia albipuncta
• 
  Guyana Blind Snake
  Epictia tenella
• 
  Black Blind Snake
  Epictia magnamaculata
• 
  Epictia phenops
  Epictia phenops
• 
  Black Blind Snake
  Epictia goudotii
• 
  Epictia resetari
  Epictia resetari

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

Epictia

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

Epictia munoai

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.