Leptotyphlopidae
San Salvador Blind Snake
HarmlessEpictia columbi
2 photographs of the San Salvador Blind Snake. (c) Tom Kennedy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Kennedy.
The San Salvador Blind Snake (Epictia columbi) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
About the San Salvador Blind Snake
The San Salvador blind snake (Epictia columbi) is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to the Caribbean.
Etymology
The specific name, columbi, is in honor of Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus.
Geographic range
Epictia columbi is endemic to San Salvador Island in The Bahamas.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Epictia columbi are forest and shrubland.
Description
Epictia columbi may attain a total length (including tail) of 18 cm (7.1 in). It has 14 scale rows around the body. The rostral and head are brown. The body is black to blackish brown dorsally (11 scale rows), and reddish brown to yellowish brown ventrally (3 scale rows).
Diet
Epictia columbi preys upon termites.
Reproduction
Epictia columbi is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: San Salvador Blind Snake
- Is the San Salvador Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The San Salvador Blind Snake (Epictia columbi) 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 San Salvador Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The San Salvador Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the San Salvador Blind Snake dangerous?
- The San Salvador Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the San Salvador Blind Snake live?
- The San Salvador Blind Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Bahamas. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the San Salvador Blind Snake eat?
- Epictia columbi preys upon termites.
- Why is it called the San Salvador Blind Snake?
- The specific name, columbi, is in honor of Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus.
Where it is found
More Leptotyphlopidae snakes
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 columbi
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.