Brahminy Blindsnake

Due to their burrowing habits, Brahminy blindsnakes are often mistaken for earthworms. You can distinguish them from earthworms as the latter are segmented and Brahminy blindsnakes are not. They are also the smallest known snake species in the world.

4 Amazing Brahminy Blindsnake Facts!

• This species is believed to be the only known parthenogenetic snake, meaning that all individuals are female with offspring identical genetically to their mothers.
• They are the most wide-ranging terrestrial reptiles in the world.
• Although they cannot see, they can sense light.
• Its primary nickname of flowerpot snake comes from its introduction throughout the world due to the plant trade.

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the Brahminy blindsnake is Indotyphlops braminus, including the Latinized form of Brahmin, the Hindu high caste. The common Layaylam term for this snake is Kurudi, while sirupaabmu is the common Tamil term.

These snakes are also known as the flowerpot snake, common blind snake, Teliya snake, and Hawaiian blind snake.

Evolution and Origins

The Brahminy blindsnake is a member of the Typhlopidae family of blind snakes, with the earliest fossil record of Typhlopid skin believed to have been identified in Dominican amber. The Typhlopidae family belongs to the Scolecophidia infraorder of snakes, of which threadsnakes are a member, which is thought to have originated in the Middle Jurassic period 174.1 million years to 163.5 million years ago.

This species has evolved to adapt to its environment in a number of ways. As they are fossorial, they burrow and live in loose soil or leaf litter or debris. Since these snakes do not use their eyes, they are vestigial and covered with scales that are translucent. Although their eyes do not allow vision, they are able to register the intensity of light sources.

Appearance

These snakes are small in length and width, averaging about 4.4 to 6.5 inches long with a maximum length of approximately 6.8 inches. They appear shiny silver grey, charcoal grey, or purple on top with a grey to brown belly. Juveniles have coloration similar to that of adults.

Their heads and tails are blunt and difficult to distinguish from one another, although the tail has a tiny pointed spur. Scales are tiny, smooth, and shiny all over their bodies, with 14 rows of scales along their bodies.

Behavior

Brahminy blindsnakes do not bite if threatened by humans and will try to escape by burrowing into the soil. When captured, they sometimes release a foul-smelling musk from glands in their tails. You may only encounter them when digging in the soil or turning over rocks, and even then, you have little fear as they are not poisonous to humans or pets.

When caught, they may try to squirm vigorously or prick humans with their tails. These snakes do not have venom poisonous to humans, so their bite, although rare, is more of a nuisance than anything else.

The most effective way to get rid of them in your home is just to pick them up and take them outside. Because they are not insect pests, you should not treat them with insecticide on your lawn as their natural habitat is in soil. If blindsnakes are entering your home from outside, seal off any holes that may allow them to find their way inside.

Snakelets are independent at birth. They reproduce at a fast rate, and because they do not need males for reproduction, they can quickly become uncontrollable. Their exact lifespan is unknown.

Habitat

In their natural habitat, Brahminy blindsnakes live in loose soil like earthworms do, as well as leaf litter, rotting logs, sawdust, and beneath surface debris and rocks in jungles and other areas with high humidity. Occasionally, you will find them in trees.

Because they like to hide in the pots of tropical plants, they have spread all over the world and have become abundant in many urban areas in tropical and semitropical climates.

These snakes love bathroom floors in urban areas because of high humidity, plus other areas of houses such as the spaces between walls and under the carpet or other flooring. The presence of these snakes inside your home when you have sealed entrances can indicate that you may have an ant or termite infestation. They are social animals with several individuals often hiding in the same area. Their exact lifespan is unknown.

These snakes are most likely originally indigenous to South Asia, but they also appear to have widespread populations in Africa. Their vertical distribution ranges from sea level to as high as 4,900 feet in Guatemala. Distribution in Africa includes the countries of Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Togo, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Cameroon, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zanzibar, South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

Their native Asian habitat includes Lebanon, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, Nepal, Pakistan, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Lakshadweep Islands, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Singapore, the Malay Peninsula, the Nicobar Islands, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Kyuku Islands. They are also found in many of the maritime islands of Southeast Asia.

As an invasive species, these snakes have colonized various parts of the United States as part of the tropical plant trade. They are particularly prevalent in Florida, California, Georgia, Louisiana, California, Arizona, Connecticut, Texas, and Hawaii. Other places in the Americas where this snake has become invasive include Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Colombia, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Because of their invasive nature, Brahminy blindsnakes have been introduced in some countries to control the spread of termites. These include Australia, particularly on the Sunshine Coast, in Oceana on Palau, Fiji, Guam, Sipan, and Tahiti.

Other areas where this snake has been found include Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands and Malta.

Diet

Brahminy blindsnakes are not hunters and primarily feed on the eggs, larvae, and pupae of ants and termites they encounter. They will also eat earthworms, caterpillars, crickets, and insect eggs as well as plant matter including mosses and fungi.

Population and Conservation

Although these snakes are deemed the most populous in the world, their exact population is unknown and increasing. They appear not to have known predators or threats, as they are able to reproduce readily and do not need a partner.

Its IUCN conservation status is of Least Concern.

1. Florida Museum, Available here: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/brahminy-blindsnake/
2. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indotyphlops_braminus
3. Florida Wish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Available here: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/snakes/brahminy-blind-snake/
4. California Herps, Available here: http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/i.braminus.html
5. Animalia, Available here: https://animalia.bio/brahminy-blind-snake
6. iNaturalist, Available here: https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/778217
7. EDD Maps, Available here: https://www.eddmaps.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=20462
8. Kidadl, Available here: https://kidadl.com/animal-facts/blind-snake-facts
9. Life is Short, but Snakes are Long, Available here: https://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-most-widespread-snake-in-world.html