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Ramphotyphlops braminus
| Family Name: | Typhlopidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Reptile) |
| Common Name: | Brahminy Blind Snake |
Name
Description
| Size | 18 cm |
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| Description | Head indistinct from body, eyes black and tiny, tail short and blunt with a rigid spine. Body slender, cylindrical, smooth and uniformly black except for the extremities which are pale coloured. While sometimes mistaken for an earthworm, this snake is not slimy, does not have rings around its body, and has a tongue that sticks out occasionally. |
Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Fossorial. Feeds on soil-dwelling invertebrates such as ant or termite larvae. Apparently the only known parthenogenetic snake species,, meaning all snakes are female, and reproduction is done asexually. Clutches of 1 - 7 eggs all develop into females. |
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| Habitats | Parks & Gardens |
| Distribution | Common in Singapore. Widespread in the tropical regions of Asia and Africa, Oceania and North and Central America. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Conservation Status | Common |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2012. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Cox, M.J., van Dijk, P.P., Nabhitabhata, J. & Thirakhupt, K. 1998. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. United Kingdom: New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. 144pp |
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