Leptotyphlopidae
Wagler's blind snake
HarmlessEpictia albifrons



3 photographs of the Wagler's blind snake. (c) Reuber Brandão, some rights reserved (CC BY).
The Wagler's blind snake (Epictia albifrons) is a non-venomous snake in the Leptotyphlopidae family, recorded in 16 countries.
- Family
- Leptotyphlopidae
About the Wagler's blind snake
Epictia albifrons, known as Wagler's blind snake or silver snake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae of blind snakes native to Argentina (Tucuman, Salta), Bolivia, Brazil and South-Africa.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Wagler's blind snake
- Is the Wagler's blind snake venomous?
- No. The Wagler's blind snake (Epictia albifrons) 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 Wagler's blind snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Wagler's blind snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Wagler's blind snake dangerous?
- The Wagler's blind snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Wagler's blind snake live?
- The Wagler's blind snake has verified records in 16 countries, including Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana. 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
- Epictia
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Epictia albifrons
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.







