Threadsnake
Trans-Pecos Blindsnake
HarmlessRena segrega
3 photographs of the Trans-Pecos Blindsnake. (c) Jeff Cole, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Trans-Pecos Blindsnake (Rena segrega) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Also called
- Threadsnake
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
- Size
- Tiny and worm-like, 6–12 in.
- Habitat
- Underground in sandy or loose soils.
- Behavior
- Burrowers that raid ant and termite nests; almost never seen.
- Identify
- Looks like a shiny earthworm with vestigial eyes.
About the Trans-Pecos Blindsnake
The Trans-Pecos Blindsnake belongs to the Leptotyphlopidae family, slender blindsnakes (threadsnakes). Among the smallest snakes in the world, thin as a thread.
Threadsnakes are minuscule burrowing snakes, some no thicker than a pencil lead, that hunt ant and termite colonies. The family includes the Barbados threadsnake, often cited as the smallest snake species known.
Its genus, Rena, covers blind snakes (North American threadsnakes). Tiny, worm-like burrowers so small and smooth you would mistake them for a strand of wet spaghetti.
The Trans-Pecos Blindsnake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check. Looks like a shiny earthworm with vestigial eyes.
Tiny and worm-like, 6–12 in. Underground in sandy or loose soils.
It has been recorded in the United States of America and Mexico. In the United States it turns up in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Trans-Pecos Blindsnake
- Is the Trans-Pecos Blindsnake venomous?
- No. The Trans-Pecos Blindsnake (Rena segrega) 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 Trans-Pecos Blindsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Trans-Pecos Blindsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Trans-Pecos Blindsnake dangerous?
- The Trans-Pecos Blindsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Trans-Pecos Blindsnake live?
- The Trans-Pecos Blindsnake has verified records in 2 countries, including United States of America, Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Trans-Pecos Blindsnake?
- Looks like a shiny earthworm with vestigial eyes.
- How big does the Trans-Pecos Blindsnake get?
- Tiny and worm-like, 6–12 in.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
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
- Rena
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Rena segrega
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.