Typhlopidae
Northern Hook-snouted Blind Snake
Anilios hamatus
A relatively stout, beak-snouted blind snake recorded in Western Australia.
Non-venomous
Identification and appearance
A relatively stout blind snake with a projecting, beak-like snout. The museum revision describes dark upperparts and a pale underside with an uneven boundary.
Typical length
Storr reported total lengths of 11.3–41.8 cm in 40 specimens. This is a sample range, not an established adult range or species maximum.
Body build
robust
Key identification features
- Relatively stout build
- Projecting beak-like snout
Where it is found
Arid and semi-arid Western Australia, from the DeGrey area south to the central Wheat Belt and across the lower Gascoyne, Geraldton and eastern localities recorded by Storr.
Medical significance
Blind snakes are non-venomous. Identification from appearance alone remains uncertain; do not handle an unfamiliar snake.
What to do if you encounter one
Leave it undisturbed and keep people and pets away. Do not pick it up to inspect its scales or head.
Similar-looking snakes
Similar blind snakes require specialist identification.
Taxonomy notes
Storr described the taxon as Ramphotyphlops hamatus sp. nov. in the 1981 Western Australian revision; current sources use Anilios hamatus.
Sources checked
- Storr 1981 Western Australian revision (2026-09-26)
- Reptile Database current taxonomy (2026-09-26)
- AROD species account (2026-09-26)
- Fauna of Australia Typhlopidae treatment (2026-09-26)
- NSW Government — Non-venomous blind snakes (2026-09-26)
Still not sure?
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A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.