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Rena dulcis

Baird and Girard, 1853

Texas Threadsnake

G5Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1371513
Element CodeARADD01040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyLeptotyphlopidae
GenusRena
Synonyms
Leptotyphlops dulcis(Baird and Girard, 1853)Rena dissecta(Cope, 1896)Rena dissectus(Cope, 1896)
Concept Reference
Flores-Villela, O. A., E. N. Smith, L. Canseco-Márquez, and J. A. Campbell. 2022. A new species of blindsnake from Jalisco, Mexico (Squamata: Leptotyphlopidae). Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 93:e933933.
Taxonomic Comments
Dixon and Vaughan (2003) concluded that R. dissecta, R. dulcis, and R. myopica (a Mexican species) should be regarded as distinct species. Prior to this, dissectus and myopicus were treated as subspecies of R. dulcis. Following Flores-Villela et al. (2022), Nicholson (2025) has re-synonymized Rena dissecta with R. dulcis. Flores-Villela et al. (2022) also considered R. dulcis to be monotypic with no subspecies.

Previously in the genus Leptotyphlops.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-12-14
Change Date2025-12-14
Edition Date2025-12-14
Edition AuthorsSears, N., and R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
This species is ranked as secure in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and large number of occurrences. In addition, there is no evidence of population declines or significant threats.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in the southwestern United States from extreme southeastern Colorado, southern Kansas, and Oklahoma, south to Zacatecas, México (Flores-Villela et al. 2022).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
The highly invasive red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) could negatively impact this species in Texas, although this species uses protective secretions to deter ant predators (Gehlbach et al. 1968). Increasing temperatures are projected to make habitat at the southern end of the range unsuitable by 2100 (Pilliod et al. 2024).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat consists of arid and semiarid areas with sandy or loamy soils, usually near moisture, including rocky and sandy desert, cedar-ocotillo associations, rock-strewn hillsides and mountain slopes, thornbrush, cedar savanna, live oak and juniper woodlands, mesquite-lined creek banks, open grassy plains, and sometimes residential areas (Tennant 1998, Werler and Dixon 2000). This secretive, fossorial snake sometimes can be found under rocks, logs, or debris. Eggs are laid in an underground chamber, in a hollow in decaying vegetation, or in a rocky fissure.

Ecology

This species secretes a defensive solution containing carboxylic acids that deter predation by ants (Gehlbach et al. 1968).

Reproduction

Lays clutch of 2-8 eggs, June-July. Often nests communally. Females may stay with eggs after laying. Eggs hatch in August or September.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
OklahomaS3Yes
ArizonaSNRYes
TexasS5Yes
ColoradoS1Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
KansasS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11.3 - Temperature extremesPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (4)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
New Mexico (3)
AreaForestAcres
GuadalupeCibola National Forest13,619
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
References (5)
  1. Flores-Villela, O. A., E. N. Smith, L. Canseco-Márquez, and J. A. Campbell. 2022. A new species of blindsnake from Jalisco, Mexico (Squamata: Leptotyphlopidae). Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 93:e933933.
  2. Gehlbach, F. R., J. F. Watkins II, and H. W. Reno. 1968. Blind snake defensive behavior elicited by ant attack. Bioscience 18: 784–785.
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx
  5. Pilliod, D. S., M. I. Jeffires, R. S. Arkle, and D. H. Olson. 2024. Climate futures for lizards and snakes in western North America may result in new species management issues. Ecology and Evolution 14: e70379. doi: 10.1002/ece3.70379