Is the Slender Blind Snake venomous?

No. The Slender Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops obtusus) 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 Slender Blind Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Slender Blind Snake dangerous?

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

Where does the Slender Blind Snake live?

The Slender Blind Snake has verified records in 5 countries, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Typhlopidae

Slender Blind Snake

Harmless

Afrotyphlops obtusus

The Slender Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops obtusus) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 5 countries.

Family: Typhlopidae

About the Slender Blind Snake

Afrotyphlops obtusus, also known as the slender blind snake or southern gracile blind-snake, is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family. It is endemic to East Africa.

Geographic range

It is found in southern Malawi, northern Mozambique, and eastern Zimbabwe.

Description

Dorsally, it is dark brown, with the base of each scale paler. Ventrally, it is pale brown to cream-colored. Maximum snout-vent length (SVL) is 37 cm (14+1⁄2 in). The scales are arranged in 24 or 26 rows around the body, and there are more than 300 scales in the vertebral row.

Snout very prominent, rounded. Nostrils located inferiorly (ventrally). Rostral large, more than half as broad as the head; portion of rostral visible from below as long as broad. Nasal semidivided, the cleft proceeding from the first upper labial. Preocular much narrower than the nasal or the ocular, in contact with the second and third upper labials. Four upper labials. Eyes not distinguishable. Prefrontals and supraoculars broad. Diameter of body 43 to 50 times in the total length. Tail broader than long, ending in a spine.

Habitat

This species prefers loose humic soil in forests. It has been found in coastal, gallery and montane forest, Miombo woodland, and even in urban compost heaps.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Slender Blind Snake

Is the Slender Blind Snake venomous?: No. The Slender Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops obtusus) 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 Slender Blind Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Slender Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Slender Blind Snake dangerous?: The Slender Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Slender Blind Snake live?: The Slender Blind Snake has verified records in 5 countries, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Zimbabwe Malawi Mozambique Zambia Cameroon

More Typhlopidae 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: Typhlopidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Afrotyphlops
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Afrotyphlops obtusus

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.