
Stiletto snakes lack an enlarged head but are venomous, and have a short, stout, tail tipped with a spiny scale.
To see any of the several species of African/Mid-Eastern Stiletto Snakes, one would think that they were viewing a harmless little black burrowing snake species. When uncovered these 15 to 26 inch long snakes try immediately to cover themselves again and will quickly succeed unless impeded by substrate or human. All 15+ (according to geneticists there may be 20 or more species) are fast and they are squirmy. They do not have an enlarged head but, heed this hobbyists and systematists) they are venomous and almost impossible, thanks to greatly elongate fangs that slide easily under and beside the upper labial scales, to handle without sustaining a bite. Venom is produced in small quantities but is considered dangerously toxic and is known to cause severe pain. These little burrowers preferentially feed on burrowing reptiles (seemingly on lizards) but will accept nestling mice as well.
It seems that it is the Southern Stiletto Snake,
Atractaspis bibroni, that is most often (now rarely) available to American hobbyists and is pictured here.
Shiny and of harmless appearance, Stiletto Snakes have elongated fangs and a very toxic venom
The elongate fangs slip downward and into an injecting positions if this snake is grasped behind the head.