Typhlopidae
Spotted Blind Snake
HarmlessAfrotyphlops punctatus


2 photographs of the Spotted Blind Snake. (c) Zac Peterson, some rights reserved (CC BY).
The Spotted Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops punctatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 26 countries.
- Family
- Typhlopidae
About the Spotted Blind Snake
The spotted blind snake (Afrotyphlops punctatus) is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Spotted Blind Snake
- Is the Spotted Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Spotted Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops punctatus) 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 Spotted Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Spotted Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Spotted Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Spotted Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Spotted Blind Snake live?
- The Spotted Blind Snake has verified records in 26 countries, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Typhlopidae snakes
Bibron's Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops bibronii
Schlegel’s Beaked blind snakeAfrotyphlops schlegelii
Zambezi Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops dinga
Common Lined Worm SnakeAfrotyphlops lineolatus
Fornasini's Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops fornasinii
Slender Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops obtusus
Schmidt’s blind-snakeAfrotyphlops schmidti
Elegant Worm SnakeAfrotyphlops elegans
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 punctatus
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.