Museum Victoria: Blind Snakes

Blind Snakes, Ramphotyphlops spp., are small, non-venomous snakes and are rarely encountered. They are nocturnal and usually burrow through the soil, although they may be seen moving on the surface on warm humid nights. They are found in loamy soils, under rocks, in or under rotting logs or in ant or termite nests. All species lay eggs and feed primarily on ants and/or termites. Most are pink or grey in colour with extremely shiny scales. They are incapable of biting.

Ramphotyphlops australis is a very robust species, with 22 mid-body scale rows and an average length of 46 cm (maximum 25 cm). It is grey or purplish brown above, with a slightly paler head and has a pale yellow or pinkish-white belly. It is found in north-western Victoria and females lay 2-11 eggs per clutch.

Ramphotyphlops australis
Photographer: Peter Robertson / Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty Ltd

Ramphotyphlops proximus is another heavily-built species. It has a rounded head, 20 mid-body scale rows and has an average length of 50 cm (maximum 70 cm). It is a dark brown snake and occurs in north-central Victoria. Females lay up to 35 eggs per clutch.

Ramphotyphlops proximus
Photographer: Peter Robertson / Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty Ltd

Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus is a slender species with a distinctly trilobed head. It has 20 mid-body scale rows and an average length of 30 cm (maximum 45 cm). Unlike the other three species of blind snakes in Victoria, which are grey or black as adults, this species is pale brown. It occurs in north-western and north-central Victoria and females lay 2-9 eggs per clutch.

Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus
Photographer: Peter Robertson / Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty Ltd

Ramphotyphlops nigrescens has 22 mid-body scale rows and a total length of up to 75 cm. Its colour ranges from purplish pink-brown to almost black above and creamish pink below. It occurs throughout central and eastern Victoria.

Ramphotyphlops nigrescens
Photographer: Peter Robertson / Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty Ltd

i i go to gwynneville in wollongong australia i caught 3 blind snakes under a rock borrowed in the soily molch i scared everey girl +boy it was about 30cm long and as thick as a thumb

Hi Oscar,

Thanks for your offer! The Discovery Centre can certainly pass on the images you took of a blind snake to our Herpetology Curator. You can send any images and information to the Discovery Centre via our Ask the Experts enquiry form.

Last night my neighbour found a blind snake in her bathroom in Gawler, South Australia. It was correctly identified by my son who is an Environmental Scientist.

We encountered a blind snake swimming accross Cudgera Creek NSW. We thought it was a worm at first but after careful inspection, discovered it was actually a snake! It was approx. 25-30cm long and a beautiful dark brown/black colour with a silver belly.

my sister also found a australis blind snake in her swimming pool after days of heavy rain in north central victoria. Any theories on rain bringing them out of the ground?

Sappy, it is generally very difficult to "unearth" blind snakes, who like to remain underground; however, heavy rains will obviously disrupt all burrowing species in a certain area, for a time. And Selina, there are numerous blind snake species in the Northern Territory; in fact, blind snakes love tropical environments, and there is even a species known as the Darwin Blind Snake. Hope this helps!

Hi, Was wondering if or how i could be able to have one of these fantastic snakes. I understand that you require a permit but i am unsure as to what type. I have been reading up on them and have come to the conclusion that they and not a well documented spices. I would love to try and see if i could answere the unanswered. Any help with this would be fantastic. Thanks Kelly.

Hi. I live at the bottom of the Toowoomba Range in Queensland. I just went out into my Kitchen and found what appeared to be a Blind Snake of about 35cm long. The head of the snake is very similar to the pictures above, however, it had bright red and black bands across it similar to a coral snake. I picked it up by the tail and took it outside and released it into the garden. I have never seen a Blind Snake with such markings. Does anyone know if this is common?

can they be found in SA cause I saw exaclly the first pic in my garden as I was digging a hole are they venemous and are they scared.Hope to hear back from u and plz dont publish my email adress its just me and my mum want to know about this snake. Thanx.

Hi Jasmine, Ramphotyphlops australis is found in the drier parts of Southern Australia and so would be found in parts of South Australia. These snakes are not venomous and are nothing to worry about.

Blind Snakes Ramphotyphlops spp.

Snakes of Victoria series

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