The question is often asked: are there dangerous animals, poisonous snakes, scorpions or spiders in Mauritius?
The most common answer is that there are no snakes on this beautiful paradise island and indeed there are no native snake species, but nowadays the common wolf snake and the Indian wolf snake are invasive species. However, there is no need to worry as they are not poisonous and at 20-30 cm long and 1 cm thick, they can only pose a threat to geckos.
Why are there no snakes in Mauritius?
They used to be found on the island of Mauritius, but they have been wiped out by human influence, especially livestock farming. These snakes were previously classified in the genus Boas, but are now in a separate family. Two genera are recognised, but nowadays only one species survives, the Round Island Boa, which is not found on Mauritius but on one of the Mascarene Islands.
Are there poisonous spiders in Mauritius?
There are poisonous spiders in Mauritius, but the good news is that most of them do not cause any serious problems to humans. The vast majority of the species known here have mild bites that usually cause nothing more than a little local pain and swelling.
Are there sharks in Mauritius?
The waters around Mauritius are home to typical shark species that are found in many places in the Indian Ocean. These include various types of reef sharks, such as the blacktip reef shark, the white reef shark and the notoriously large whale shark. However, there is no need to worry about shark attacks near the coast, as they do not come within the coral reefs. For more on this, see our article Are there shark attacks in Mauritius?
Are there scorpions in Mauritius?
Scorpions are one of the oldest living species on Earth. In fact, 400 million year old scorpion footprints have been found. There are about 1,500 species in the world, of which only 20 can be fatal to humans. Mauritius’s endemic scorpion species Lychas serratus is so rare that it was thought to have been extinct for almost 150 years until its recent rediscovery. Encounters with such a scorpion are therefore almost impossible during a holiday, but if they do happen, there is no need to fear being stung as it is not fatal. The most common species of scorpion on the island is Isometrus maculatus, the small chicken scorpion, which, although it appears more often than its tiny counterpart, is still extremely rare.
Currently, very little is known about the invertebrate fauna of Mauritius and new species continue to be regularly discovered and described.
What can sting you in Mauritius?
However, there are a few creatures to watch out for, such as rockfish and lionfish, which are painful to ‘sting’, and sea urchins and jellyfish, which can cause burning, itchy skin irritation. In all cases, it is recommended to seek medical advice.
Fear is not justified, however, as they are not common and if you take the proper precautions, wear swimming shoes in the ocean, they are all of no danger to you.
