Typhlopidae
Woodland Blind Snake
HarmlessAnilios proximus
3 photographs of the Woodland Blind Snake. (c) alexander_dudley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Woodland Blind Snake (Anilios proximus) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Typhlopidae
About the Woodland Blind Snake
The Proximus blind snake or the woodland blind snake (Anilios proximus) is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family that is native to eastern Australia.
Description
It has an average length of 50 cm, but can reach 75 cm. It is dark brown and glossy in appearance with very small eyes, a bluntly trilobed snout, 20 mid-body scales and no noticeable head. They can often be mistaken for earthworms.
Distribution
It is found in eastern Queensland, New South Wales, northern Victoria and eastern South Australia. Predominately nocturnal and non-venomous, it is a burrowing snake which spends most of its life beneath leaf litter or underground. It is rarely seen in daytime, but would make incidental appearances after heavy rainfall or warm moist nights using rocks and debris for shelter.
Feeding
It mostly feeds on termites, larvae and pupae of ants, and small insects.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Woodland Blind Snake
- Is the Woodland Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Woodland Blind Snake (Anilios proximus) 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 Woodland Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Woodland Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Woodland Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Woodland Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Woodland Blind Snake live?
- The Woodland Blind Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Australia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Woodland Blind Snake eat?
- It mostly feeds on termites, larvae and pupae of ants, and small insects.
Where it is found
More Typhlopidae snakes
Blackish Blind SnakeAnilios nigrescens
Prong-snouted Blind SnakeAnilios bituberculatus
Southern Blind SnakeAnilios australis
Dark-spined Blind SnakeAnilios bicolor
Long-beaked Blind SnakeAnilios grypus
Interior Blind SnakeAnilios endoterus
Robust Blind SnakeAnilios ligatus
Rotund Blind SnakeAnilios pinguis
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
- Anilios
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Anilios proximus
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.