The blind snake is often mistaken for a worm, even with hundreds of different species.

It can reach up to 3.3 feet long, though most of them are no more than about half a foot long in their adult size. Some species of this snake can lay eggs that hatch without fertilization, keeping their population steady. However, an estimated number is not available because they all live underground.

5 Amazing Blind Snake Facts

• The blind snake family consists of 18 genera and over 200 individual species.
• The tail of every blind snake has a horned scale.
• While the majority of blind snake species are found in tropical habitats, the flowerpot snake is found primarily on islands around the world as well.
• The Brahminy blind snake is exclusively female, and it lays eggs that are self-activated in development, rather than fertilized. Even if only one were left, it could create a new population.
• Blind snakes are non-venomous.

Where to Find Blind Snakes

Since there are so many blind snakes around the world, they are found on every single continent, though they prefer to live in tropical areas. In fact, according to many researchers, these blind snakes are in every tropical area.

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They can be found in tropical areas in Africa and Asia and South and Central America. However, on the Bimini island of the Caribbean is primarily home to pink blind snakes.

Despite being found across the world, no snakes at all are found in Ireland, but European countries with a tropical zone have found blind snakes in their regions as well. Since they prefer a wetter climate, the easiest time to spot them in these habitats is after heavy rain. Sometimes, they’ll reside in trees to give them access to ants and termites as their food.

With over 200 species in 18 genera, the specific location depends on the species.

Types of Blind Snakes

Blind snakes come down to 18 genera, though some of the most commonly known snakes within this family include the:

• Brahminy blind snake: The Brahminy blind snake primarily lives in southeast Asia, but they’ve also been found in Florida since the 1970s. Instead of being pink, this snake is so dark that it appears to be black, and they grow to be about 7 inches long at its full size.
• Texas blind snake: The Texas blind snake is brown, and it is also called the Texas thread snake or the Texas slender blind snake. They range from 3 to 13 inches long, and they are found throughout the state that they are named for, even though it is not tropical.
• Western blind snake: The western blind snake is bright pink, and it is found throughout California. It doesn’t have much of a neck, and it is incredibly small.
• The lifespan of the blind snake is unknown.

Blind Snake Scientific Name

The blind snake, which is a family of snakes, is known by the scientific name Typhlopidae. There are 250 nominate species under this family, which is under the Reptilia class. The word “typhlopidae” comes from the Greek words “tuphlós” and “ṓps,” translating to mean “blind eye.”

Some common species include the Texas blind snake, the western blind snake, and the Brahminy blind snake.

Blind Snake Population and Conservation Status

The entire blind snake family comes down to about 250 species, but their subterranean nature makes it difficult for researchers to determine an estimated population. For the most part, the IUCN says that blind snakes are considered to be “Not Extinct.” There are a few species that are of Least Concern (Bismarck sharp-nosed blind snake, Liwale blind snake, and the Costa Rica worm snake), and a multiple extinct species. The Madagascar blind snake, however, is currently considered Critically Endangered.

Currently, the lifespan of most blind snakes is unknown.

How to Identify Blind Snakes: Appearance and Description

Since there are so many different species, it is hard to say a specific description for all of them. Most of these snakes have teeth in their upper jaw and black spots in the eye to make it easier to see in the dark burrows in which they live. They have no real use for their vision, and they have cylindrical bodies with short tails and a blunt head. Their scales are smooth and shiny. Most of these snakes have a rather small size, ranging from 5.5 to 12 inches, though there are some species that could reach up to 3.3 feet. They look like worms, often featuring a gray or pink body. Pink blind snakes are more likely to be found on Bimini in the Caribbean, though the brown blind snake is often mistaken for an earthworm.

How to identify blind snakes:

• Up to 3.3 feet long, though typically measures 5-12 inches in overall size.
• Pink or grey body with smooth scales.
• Blunt head with a short tail.
• Looks fairly similar to a worm.

Blind Snake Pictures

Blind Snake Venom: How Dangerous Are They?

Since the blind snake carries no venom, they aren’t really harmful at all. They burrow underground, though their take has a sharp spine at the tip that can be intimidating. They have teeth on their upper jaw, but their mouth is such a small size that they can’t open it any larger than what it would take to eat its typical food of ants and termites. There’s no risk of being bitten.

Blind Snake Behavior and Humans

Blind snakes stay underground, and they are incredibly shy around anyone. When they encounter a human, their main inclination is to get away (instead of bite). Some people may keep the blind snake as a pet, but they aren’t very interactive or outgoing, so they may not be entertaining. Plus, since they are non-venomous and aren’t aggressive, they don’t bite anything more than their small prey.

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