Indotyphlops braminus,commonly known as thebrahminy blind snake[4] and other names, is a non-venomousblind snakespecies, found mostly in Africa and Asia, and has been introduced in many other parts of the world. It is a completelyfossorial (i.e., burrowing) reptile, with habits and appearance similar to anearthworm, for which it is often mistaken, although close examination reveals tiny scales and eyes rather than the annular segments characteristic of a true earthworm. The species isparthenogenetic and all known specimens have been female.[5] Thespecific name is a Latinized form of the wordBrahmin. Nosubspecies are currently recognized as being valid.[4]
Adults ofI. braminus measure 2–4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) long, uncommonly to 6 inches (15 cm), making it the smallest knownsnake species. The head and tail are superficially similar as the head and neck are indistinct. Unlike other snakes, the head scales resemble the body scales. The eyes are barely discernible as small dots under the head scales. The tip of the tail has a small, pointed spur. Along the body are fourteen rows ofdorsal scales. Coloration ranges from charcoal gray, silver-gray, light yellow-beige, purplish, or infrequently albino, the ventral surface more pale. Coloration of the juvenile form is similar to that of the adult. Behavior ranges from lethargic in appropriate habitat to energetic, quickly seeking the cover of soil orleaf litter to avoid light.[6][7][8]
Indotyphlops braminus from Kerala, India
The tiny eyes are covered withtranslucentscales, rendering this snake almost entirely blind. The eyes cannot form images, but are still capable of registering light intensity.
I. braminus is variously known as the brahminy blind snake,[4] flowerpot snake, common blind snake, island blind snake, teliya snake, and Hawaiian blind snake. The moniker "flowerpot snake" derives from the snake's incidental introduction to various parts of the world through the plant trade. "Kurudi" is the common Malayalam term which refers toI. braminus. "Sirupaambu" is the common Tamil term which refers toI. braminus.
Most likely originally native to Africa and Asia,I. braminus is an introduced species in many parts of the world, includingAustralia, theAmericas, andOceania.
In Europe, it has been found inSpain[12] (in theCanary Islands ofTenerife andGran Canaria),[13] inItaly (on the island ofIschia),[14] and inMalta;[15] it is believed to have been introduced in soil imported with potted plants, and has been labeled potentially invasive to native fauna.
Usually, the brahminy blind snake occurs in urban and agricultural areas.[6] This species of snake lives underground inant andtermite nests. It is also found under logs, moist leaves, stones and humus in wet forest, dry jungle, abandoned buildings, and even city gardens. The distribution and survival of this group of blind snakes directly reflect soilhumidity andtemperature.[10]
I. braminus isparthenogenetic, and all specimens collected so far have been female. It lays eggs or may bear live young. Up to eight offspring are produced, all female and genetically identical.[6] They aretriploid,[16][17][18] and it has been proposed that the species be transferred to a new genus asVirgotyphlops braminus because of its obligate parthenogenetic nature.[19][20]
Annandale N (1906). "Notes on the fauna of a desert tract in southern India. Part I. Batrachians and reptiles, with remarks on the reptiles of the desert region of the North-West Frontier".Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta1: 183–202.
Boulenger GA (1893).Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families Typhlopidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII. (Typhlops braminus, pp. 16–17).
Daudin FM (1802).Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière des Reptiles. Tome septième [Volume 7]. Paris: F. Dufart. 436 pp.
Hedges SB,Marion AB,Lipp KM,Marin J,Vidal N (2014). "A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata)".Caribbean Herpetology (49): 1-61. (Indotyphlops braminus, new combination).
Jones GS, Thomas LA, Wong K (1995). "Ramphotyphlops braminus ".Herpetological Review26 (4):210-211.
Kelaart EF (1854). "Catalogue of reptiles collected in Ceylon".Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Second Series13: 137–140.
Nussbaum RA (1980). "The brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) in the Seychelles Archipelago: Distribution, variation, and further evidence for parthenogenesis".Herpetologica36 (3): 215–221.
Oliver JA,Shaw CE (1953). "The amphibians and reptiles of the Hawaiian Islands".Zoologica, New York38 (5): 65–95.
Thomas LA (1997). "Geographic Distribution.Ramphotyphlops braminus ".Herpetological Review28 (2): 98.
Vijayakumar SP,David P (2006). "Taxonomy, Natural History, And Distribution Of The Snakes Of The Nicobar Islands (INDIA), Based On New Materials And With An Emphasis On Endemic Species".Russian Journal of Herpetology13 (1): 11–40.
Wall F (1919). "Notes on a collection of Snakes made in the Nilgiri Hills and the adjacent Wynaad".Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society26: 552–584.
Wallach V (1999). "Geographic distribution:Ramphotyphlops braminus ".Herpetological Review30 (4): 236.
