Brahminy Blindsnake

Indotyphlops braminus

🐍 Non-venomous

Description

The Brahminy Blindsnake (Indotyphlops braminus), also known as the Flowerpot Snake, is a tiny, worm-like snake that rarely exceeds 15 cm in length. It has smooth, shiny, dark brown to purplish-black scales and is often mistaken for an earthworm. This species spends most of its life underground or under debris, feeding primarily on ant and termite larvae. It is parthenogenetic, meaning all individuals are female and reproduce without males, making it one of the most widespread snake species in the world.

Venomous?

Non-venomous. It poses no threat to humans or pets.

A Danger to Humans?

Completely harmless and non-aggressive. When disturbed, it may wriggle to escape or release a mild odor but does not bite.

Population Size

Stable

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

30.5 g

LENGTH

120 mm

Ca

Carnivore

Fo

Fossorial

No

Nocturnal

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Reptilia

ORDER

:

Squamata

FAMILY

:

Typhlopidae

GENUS

:

Ramphotyphlops

SPECIES

:

Indotyphlops braminus

Distribution

Live in loose soil, under rubble, between rotting roots or plants and other similar environments. In Bali it is known to be located in the dunes on the coast near the monsoon forest shrubs, and on agricultural land, areas of high rainfall, near sea level. Generally up to an altitude of 1300 m above sea level.

Geography

Continent : Asia, Afrika, Amerika, Australia

Country : In Maritime Southeast Asia, it occurs on Sumatra and nearby islands (the Riao Archipelago, Bangka, Billiton and Nias), Borneo, Sulawesi, the Philippines, Butung, Salajar, Ternate, Halmahera, Buru, Ceram, Ambon, Saparua, Java, Bali , Lombok, Sumbawa, Madura, Flores, Lomblen, Sumba, Timor, East Timor, Kai Island, the Aru Islands, New Guinea (Western Papua and Papua New Guinea), New Britain, and Bougainville Island.

In Africa, it has been reported in Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa (an isolated colony in Cape Town, also about eight have been found in Lephalale, Limpopo Province at the Medupi Power Station during construction), Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, Mauritius, the Mascarene Islands and the Seychelles.

In Asia, it occurs on Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, mainland India, the Maldives, the Lakshadweep Islands, Sri Lanka, Maldives ,Bangladesh, the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands, Myanmar, Singapore, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Hainan, southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawashima and Miyakoshima.

Habits and Lifestyle

This species is active at night and lives in soil (fossorial), will emerge to the surface after rain falls. sometimes it can be found under bark, in rotten wood or in termites walking in trees some distance above the ground

Lifestyle

Fossorial

Biome

Monsoon forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

This species feeds on termites, ants, and their larvae and earthworms. known to decapitate termite prey and consume only the chest and stomach

Diet : Carnivora

Mating Habits

This species is parthenogenetic, and all individuals are female, laying 1 – 8 eggs. The incubation period is 26 days in Ryukyu, Japan and 39 days in the Mariana Islands, and hatching takes 51 hours. The reproductive period begins in April.

Reproduction session : April

Incubation periods: 51 – 26 days

Independent age : at birth

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 1 – 8 eggs

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. Somaweera, R. 2020. A Naturalist’s Guide To The Reptiles and Amphibians of Bali. John Beaufoy Publishing, Oxford, England.
  2. Sundatyphlops polygrammicus on Wikipedia article