Indotyphlops Braminus, the Brahminy blind snake is a nonvenomous blind snake found throughout the world. The small, worm-like snake originates from Southeast Asian and India has most likely spread throughout the world hiding in flower pots. This fact has earned the snake is second most used common name, the flowerpot snake. Due to its abundance in Hawaii, it is also called the Hawaiian blindsnake.
Description
The head of the brahminy blind snake has a rounded snout and stunted but visible eyes and is not set off from the neck. Its body is slender and shiny silvery-gray, brownish or shiny purple-black with a gray, cream-colored or brownish belly. The tail tip has a small spur.
Size
The brahminy blindsnake is a very small snake with an average body length of 2-6 inches (5-15 cm). The longest ever recorded specimen was 9 inches long (23 cm) long.
Diet, Life and Habitat
Flowerpot snakes dig in leaf litter or earth between plant roots and feed on insects, their eggs and larvae. They are the only known species of snake with the ability to reproduce purely parthenogenetically. That means that female reproduce themselves without encounters with male specimen. That means that there are only females who, under favorable conditions, lay one to eight eggs. The fact that one single specimen can reproduce has helped the snake to spreach throughout the world.
Bite
Brahminy blind snakes are nonvenomous and pose absolutely no threat for humans or pets. Their small mouths are unable to bite through human skin.
Brahminy blind snake range in the USA
The original distribution area of the Brahminy blind snake is in Southeast Asia and India. Today, they are found on all continents outside of Antarctica. In the United States, they can be found in California, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, Massachusetts, Arizona, Hawaii and Texas.
Scientific classification of Indotyphlops braminus
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Suborder: Serpentes
- Family: Typhlopidae
- Genus: Indotyphlops
- Species: Indotyphlops braminus
Other common names
Next to its most popular common name, the brahminy blind snake is also called the flowerpot snake, Hawaiian blind snake, common blind snake, island blind snake, and teliya snake.
