Western Blind Snake
Rena humilis
A small, glossy, worm-like burrowing snake widespread across the deserts of the American Southwest, feeding almost exclusively on ants and termites.
- Venomous?
- Harmless
- Adult length
- 15-38 cm (6-15 in)
- Range
- Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico
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Overview
The western blind snake is a small, fossorial species widely distributed across the arid Southwest of North America. Its reduced eyes and worm-like body reflect a lifestyle spent almost entirely underground.
It is completely harmless to humans, lacking functional venom for defense against anything larger than the tiny insects it preys upon.
How to identify it
- Slender, cylindrical body of nearly uniform width
- Coloration ranging from pale pink to brown or purplish-brown, often glossy
- Smooth, polished scales
- Tiny, vestigial eyes visible as dark spots under translucent scales
- Blunt head not clearly distinct from the body, with a short, spine-tipped tail
- Adults typically 15-38 cm in length, somewhat variable across its range
Habitat & range
Inhabits deserts, arid grasslands, and rocky scrublands with loose or sandy soils across the southwestern United States, including California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, extending into Baja California and northwestern mainland Mexico. Shelters under rocks, in soil crevices, and beneath surface debris.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal and fossorial, rarely seen above ground except after rain or when uncovered from shelter. Feeds on ant and termite eggs, larvae, and pupae, entering underground colonies to forage.
An egg-laying species, producing small clutches of a few eggs. Entirely inoffensive if encountered, often trying to burrow away rather than defend itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is the western blind snake venomous?
No, it is harmless and poses no threat to humans.
How big does the western blind snake get?
Adults typically range from 15 to 38 cm (6-15 in) in length.
What does the western blind snake eat?
It feeds almost exclusively on ant and termite eggs, larvae, and pupae.
Where is the western blind snake found?
It occurs throughout the deserts and arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Western Blind Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Western Blind Snake.
