Leptotyphlopidae
Seven-striped Blind Snake
HarmlessSiagonodon septemstriatus
3 photographs of the Seven-striped Blind Snake. (c) Arnaud Aury, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Seven-striped Blind Snake (Siagonodon septemstriatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 7 countries.
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
About the Seven-striped Blind Snake
The seven-striped blind snake (Siagonodon septemstriatus) is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to northeastern South America.
Geographic range
S. septemstriatus is found in Bolivia, northern Brazil (Amazonas, Pará, Roraima), French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and southeastern Venezuela.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of S. septemstriatus is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft).
Description
S. septemstriatus is yellowish, with seven black stripes along the dorsal scales. It may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 27 cm (11 in), with a tail 1 cm (0.39 in) long.
Behavior
S. septemstriatus is terrestrial and fossorial.
Reproduction
S. septemstriatus is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Seven-striped Blind Snake
- Is the Seven-striped Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Seven-striped Blind Snake (Siagonodon septemstriatus) 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 Seven-striped Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Seven-striped Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Seven-striped Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Seven-striped Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Seven-striped Blind Snake live?
- The Seven-striped Blind Snake has verified records in 7 countries, including Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname. See the distribution section below for its full range.
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
- Siagonodon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Siagonodon septemstriatus
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.