Cape Thread Snake
Leptotyphlops scutifrons
A tiny, glossy burrowing thread snake of southern Africa that lives almost entirely underground, feeding on ants and termites.
- Venomous?
- Harmless
- Adult length
- 15-25 cm (6-10 in)
- Range
- Southern Africa
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Overview
The Cape thread snake is a small, secretive burrowing species native to southern Africa. Like other members of the thread snake family, it possesses greatly reduced eyes and a slender, worm-like body adapted for life underground.
It is completely harmless to humans, having no meaningful venom apparatus and posing no risk if encountered.
How to identify it
- Slender, cylindrical, worm-like body
- Glossy brown to purplish-brown or pinkish-brown coloration, sometimes with a slightly paler belly
- Smooth, tightly fitting scales
- Tiny vestigial eyes visible only as faint dark spots
- Blunt head and short tail ending in a small spine
- Adults typically 15-25 cm in length
Habitat & range
Found in loose or sandy soils in savannas, grasslands, and scrublands across southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and neighboring regions. Highly fossorial, sheltering under rocks, logs, or within ant and termite nests.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal and almost entirely subterranean, rarely encountered above ground except after rain. Feeds on ant and termite eggs, larvae, and pupae, often entering their nests to forage.
An egg-laying species, with reproductive details similar to other small thread snakes, producing small clutches of a few eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cape thread snake venomous?
No, it is harmless and has no venom capable of affecting humans.
How big does the Cape thread snake get?
Adults typically reach 15-25 cm (6-10 in) in length.
What does the Cape thread snake eat?
It feeds on ant and termite eggs, larvae, and pupae.
Where is the Cape thread snake found?
It occurs across southern Africa in savannas, grasslands, and sandy scrublands.
Cape Thread Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Cape Thread Snake.
