Typhlopidae
Prong-snouted Blind Snake
Anilios bituberculatus
A widespread Australian blind snake with a slender body and a long snout. Specialist descriptions refer to a three-lobed snout outline when viewed from above.
Non-venomous
Identification and appearance
It is a small, slender blind snake with a moderately dark appearance and a snout that is strongly three-lobed when viewed from above. Those specialist characters should not be checked by handling a live snake.
Typical length
AROD lists a species average of about 45 cm; no typical interval or exceptional maximum is asserted here.
Body build
slender
Head appearance
long snout
Key identification features
- Small, slender blind-snake form
- Long, strongly trilobed snout in specialist diagnosis
- Broad Australian range
Where it is found
Recorded across New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
Habitat
Recorded in sandy soils, sometimes containing lime-rich material, and in clay where winter moisture is unreliable.
Diet
A museum study found that ant pupae made up most of the recorded prey, with some ant larvae and eggs also eaten.
Reproduction
Egg-laying.
Medical significance
Blind snakes are non-venomous. If the snake has not been reliably identified and a bite is suspected, call 000 and follow snakebite first aid.
What to do if you encounter one
Leave it where it is and keep people and pets away while it moves off.
Similar-looking snakes
Other Anilios species are difficult to separate without specialist examination. Do not dig for or handle a blind snake.
Taxonomy notes
The Reptile Database records several historical generic combinations; the approved current name is Anilios bituberculatus.
Sources checked
- Australian Reptile Online Database — Prong-snouted blind snake (2026-09-25)
- The Reptile Database — Anilios bituberculatus (2026-09-25)
- Queensland Government — Snakes near you: Cairns region (2026-09-25)
- Webb & Shine 1993, Dietary Habits of Australian Blindsnakes (2026-09-26)
- Fauna of Australia — blind snakes (2026-09-26)
Still not sure?
Compare this snake with more clues.
A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.