The brahminy blind snake is a snake so tiny that many mistake it for a worm. This article will take a quick look at this friendly little fellow and outline its physical and biological characteristics.
Better known as the flowerpot snake, the brahminy blind snake, or ‘Indotyphlops braminus’, is native to South-East Asia (but can be found all over the world) and is one of the smallest snakes known to man. They can get as long as 6.5-inches (approximately 16-5.cm) but are very thin in girth. Also, while that may be long for certain species of worms, that is not long for a snake. Brahminy blind snakes vary in color, but mostly they are gray, black or purple. In addition to its size, one of the blind snake’s characteristics that has people taking it for a worm is its uniform appearance. Except for the tail-tip being slightly more pointed, there is really no clear visible difference between the head and the tail of the snake. That is, until one takes a closer look. As we said, the tail is slightly more pointed, and the snake’s head has two, tiny black eye spots which blend in with its scales. Their eyes are so small and perfectly circular that it looks like someone drew them on with a sharpie.
Although this is a snake and not a worm, our readers do not have to fear if they find one of these in or near their homes. In fact, there are plenty of worms of this size which are far more dangerous than this snake. The brahminy blind snake is not venomous and is not known to carry any parasites or diseases. In Thailand (one of the many regions this snake can be found), it is thought that the brahminy blind snake is incredibly poisonous, and is widely feared, though this is just a myth. So, if any of our readers were to find one of these, which has happened before, they need only pick it up and place it outside. One is most likely to find one of these in one of their plant pots (thus the name ‘flowerpot snake) or crawling up their drain, though the latter is not as common.
Finally, we thought it would be important to detail some of the key facts about the brahminy blind snake. Despite them sometimes being found in people’s homes, their natural habitat is under or above ground, where they create little burrows to dwell in. Brahminy blind snakes feed on termite and ant eggs, thus being quite environmentally beneficial in controlling termite and ant populations. That being said, they are nonetheless usually near the bottom of the food chains they are a part of, being the prey of multiple species of birds and bigger snakes. Despite being the prey of many animals, one advantage that the brahminy blind snake has for maintaining the survival of their species is their asexuality. Brahminy blind snakes are parthenogenetic, meaning that they are all born female and do not require a male mate, as sperm is not required for the fertilization of their eggs. This is likely what has led to their widespread population across the globe. And this is yet another characteristic, albeit an invisible one, that makes the brahminy blind snake similar to many species of worms.
To conclude, this has been a very brief look at the brahminy blind snake. This friendly creature is not be confused with a worm, but is not to be feared either! As we said, if anyone finds one of these, we urge them to return them to the wild as they are important to the environment and pose absolutely no threat to anyone. We hope that our readers found something of interest in this article and that they are staying safe and cozy during these odd times.
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