Typhlopidae
Zambezi Blind Snake
HarmlessAfrotyphlops dinga
3 photographs of the Zambezi Blind Snake. © Eric.
The Zambezi Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops dinga) is a non-venomous snake in the Typhlopidae family, recorded in 44 countries.
- Family
- Typhlopidae
About the Zambezi Blind Snake
The Zambezi Blind Snake belongs to the Typhlopidae family, blindsnakes. Tiny, worm-like burrowing snakes that raid ant and termite nests.
Blindsnakes are small, shiny, cylindrical snakes that spend their lives underground. Their eyes are reduced to dark spots beneath the head scales, and they feed mostly on the eggs and larvae of ants and termites. They are completely harmless.
Its genus, Afrotyphlops, covers African blind snakes. Small burrowing blind snakes of sub-Saharan Africa that look more like shiny worms than snakes.
The Zambezi Blind Snake 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.
It has been recorded across 44 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Zambia and Tanzania, United Republic of.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Zambezi Blind Snake
- Is the Zambezi Blind Snake venomous?
- No. The Zambezi Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops dinga) 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 Zambezi Blind Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Zambezi Blind Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Zambezi Blind Snake dangerous?
- The Zambezi Blind Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Zambezi Blind Snake live?
- The Zambezi Blind Snake has verified records in 44 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Congo, Democratic Republic of the. 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
Common Lined Worm SnakeAfrotyphlops lineolatus
Fornasini's Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops fornasinii
Slender Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops obtusus
Schmidt’s blind-snakeAfrotyphlops schmidti
Spotted Blind SnakeAfrotyphlops punctatus
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 dinga
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.