Indotyphlops braminus

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Indotyphlops braminus
Davidraju Worm Snake.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Typhlopidae
Genus: Indotyphlops
Species:
I. braminus
Binomial name
Indotyphlops braminus
(Daudin, 1803)
Synonyms
  • Eryx braminusDaudin, 1803
  • [Tortrix] Russelii
    Merrem, 1820
  • Typhlops braminus
    Cuvier, 1829
  • Typhlops Russeli
    Schlegel, 1839
  • Argyrophis truncatus
    Gray, 1845
  • Argyrophis Bramicus
    Gray, 1845
  • Eryx Bramicus
    — Gray, 1845
  • Tortrix Bramicus
    — Gray, 1845
  • Onychocephalus Capensis A. Smith, 1846
  • Ophthalmidium tenue Hallowell, 1861
  • T[yphlops]. (Typhlops) inconspicuus Jan, 1863
  • T[yphlops]. (Typhlops) accedensJan, 1863
  • T[yphlops]. accedens
    — Jan & Sordelli, 1864
  • Typhlops (Typhlops) euproctus Boettger, 1882
  • Typhlops bramineus A.B. Meyer, 1887
  • Tortrix russellii
    Boulenger, 1893
  • Typhlops russellii
    — Boulenger, 1893
  • Typhlops braminus
    — Boulenger, 1893
  • Typhlops accedens
    — Boulenger, 1893
  • Typhlops limbrickii Annandale, 1906
  • Typhlops braminus var. arenicolaAnnandale, 1906
  • [Typhlops braminus] var. pallidus Wall, 1909
  • Typhlops microcephalus F. Werner, 1909
  • Glauconia braueri Sternfeld, 1910
  • [Typhlops] braueri
    — Boulenger, 1910
  • Typhlopidae braminus
    Roux, 1911
  • Typhlops fletcheri
    Wall, 1919
  • Typhlops braminus braminusMertens, 1930
  • Typhlops braminus
    — Nakamura, 1938
  • Typhlops pseudosaurus Dryden & Taylor, 1969
  • Typhlina (?) bramina
    McDowell, 1974
  • Ramphotyphlops braminus
    Nussbaum, 1980 [2]
  • Indotyphlops braminus
    Hedges et al., 2014 [3]

Indotyphlops braminus, commonly known as the brahminy blind snake [4] and other names, is a non-venomous blind snake species found mostly in Africa and Asia, but has been introduced in many other parts of the world. They are completely fossorial (i.e., burrowing) reptiles, with habits and appearance similar to earthworms, for which they are often mistaken, although close examination reveals tiny scales and eyes rather than the annular segments characteristic of true earthworms. The species is parthenogenetic and all known specimens have been female. [5] The specific name is a Latinized form of the word Brahmin. No subspecies are currently recognized. [4]

Contents

Description

I. braminus in Hua Hin, Thailand (top) and East Timor (bottom) Ramphotyphlops braminus in Timor-Leste.jpg
I. braminus in Hua Hin, Thailand (top) and East Timor (bottom)

Adults measure 2–4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) long, uncommonly to 6 inches (15 cm), making it the smallest known snake species. The head and tail are superficially similar as the head and neck are indistinct. Unlike other snakes, the head scales resemble the body scales. The eyes are barely discernible as small dots under the head scales. The tip of the tail has a small, pointed spur. Along the body are fourteen rows of dorsal scales. Coloration ranges from charcoal gray, silver-gray, light yellow-beige, purplish, or infrequently albino, the ventral surface more pale. Coloration of the juvenile form is similar to that of the adult. Behavior ranges from lethargic in appropriate habitat to energetic, quickly seeking the cover of soil or leaf litter to avoid light. [6] [7] [8]

Indotyphlops braminus from Kerala, India Indotyphlopsbraminus.jpg
Indotyphlops braminus from Kerala, India

The tiny eyes are covered with translucent scales, rendering these snakes almost entirely blind. The eyes cannot form images, but are still capable of registering light intensity.

Common names

I. braminus is variously known as the brahminy blind snake, [4] flowerpot snake, common blind snake, island blind snake, teliya snake, and Hawaiian blind snake. The moniker "flowerpot snake" derives from the snake's incidental introduction to various parts of the world through the plant trade. "Kurudi" is the common Malayalam term which refers to braminus. "Sirupaambu" is the common Tamil term which refers to braminus.

Distribution

Most likely originally native to Africa and Asia, it is an introduced species in many parts of the world, including Australia, the Americas, and Oceania.

The vertical distribution is from sea level to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) in Sri Lanka and up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in Guatemala. The type locality given is "Vishakhapatam" [ India]. [2]

Native range

In Africa, it has been reported in Uganda, DRC, Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa (an isolated colony in Cape Town and Natal Midlands; about eight have been found in Lephalale, Limpopo Province at the Medupi Power Station during construction), Madagascar (Nossi Be), [3] the Comoro Islands, Mauritius, the Mascarene Islands and the Seychelles. It has also been found in Libya. [9]

In Asia, it occurs in the Arabian Peninsula, Lebanon, Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, mainland India (as well as the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands, and the Lakshadweep Islands, where it is the only snake reported), [10] the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Singapore, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, southern China (including Hainan), Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan (in the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawashima and Miyakoshima).

In Maritime Southeast Asia, it occurs on Sumatra and nearby islands (the Riau Archipelago, Bangka, Belitung and Nias), Borneo, Sulawesi, the Philippines, Java, Bali, Flores, East Timor, Kai Island, the Aru Islands, [11] New Guinea (Western Papua and Papua New Guinea), New Britain, and Bougainville Island.

It also occurs in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and on Christmas Island.

Introduced range

In Australia, it occurs in the Northern Territory near Darwin, and in parts of Queensland.

In Oceania, it occurs on Papua New Guinea, Palau, Guam, Fiji, Saipan, the Hawaiian Islands and Tahiti in French Polynesia.

In the Americas, it occurs in the United States (California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Arizona, Hawaii and Texas), western and southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Colombia, Barbados and on the Cayman Islands, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands. It has also been spotted in the Okanagan in B.C., Canada.

In Europe, it has been found in Spain [12] (in the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria), [13] in Italy (on the island of Ischia), [14] and in Malta; [15] it is believed to have been introduced in soil imported with potted plants, and has been labeled potentially invasive to native fauna.

Habitat

Usually, brahminy blind snakes occur in urban and agricultural areas. [6] These snakes live underground in ant and termite nests. They are also found under logs, moist leaves, stones and humus in wet forest, dry jungle, abandoned buildings, and even city gardens. The distribution and survival of this group of blind snakes directly reflect soil humidity and temperature. [10]

Feeding

Their diet consists of the larvae, eggs, and pupae of ants and termites. [6]

Reproduction

I. braminus is parthenogenetic, and all specimens collected so far have been female. They lay eggs or may bear live young. Up to eight offspring are produced, all female and genetically identical. [6] They are triploid, [16] [17] [18] and it has been proposed that the species be transferred to a new genus as Virgotyphlops braminus because of its obligate parthenogenetic nature. [19] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

François Marie Daudin was a French zoologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhlopidae</span> Family of snakes

The Typhlopidae are a family of blind snakes. They are found mostly in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and all mainland Australia and various islands. The rostral scale overhangs the mouth to form a shovel-like burrowing structure. They live underground in burrows, and since they have no use for vision, their eyes are mostly vestigial. They have light-detecting black eye spots, and teeth occur in the upper jaw. Typhlopids do not have dislocatable lower jaw articulations restricting them to prey smaller than their oral aperture. The tail ends with a horn-like scale. Most of these species are oviparous. Currently, 18 genera are recognized containing over 200 species.

<i>Amerotyphlops brongersmianus</i> Species of snake

Amerotyphlops brongersmianus, known commonly as Brongersma's worm snake or the South American striped blindsnake, is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is native to South America and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Indotyphlops porrectus, the slender worm snake, is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to South Asia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Not further Study available about this species. Because their number is almost non-existent and their picture has not been recorded yet۔

Ramphotyphlops is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes of the family Typhlopidae. Member species of the genus are native to southern Asia and southeast Asia, as well as many islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. They occur in a wide variety of habitats. Currently, 22 species are recognized as being valid.

<i>Xerotyphlops vermicularis</i> Species of snake

Xerotyphlops vermicularis, the European blind snake, European worm snake, Eurasian blind snake, or Eurasian worm snake, is a species of snake in the genus Xerotyphlops. Despite its common name, the range of the European blind snake ranges from the Balkan Peninsula, the Aegean Islands, and Cyprus to Afghanistan. The common name refers to how it is the only blindsnake of the genus Typhlops naturally found in Europe. The only other blindsnake found in Europe is the brahminy blindsnake, or "flowerpot snake," Ramphotyphlops braminus, where specimens have been discovered lurking in the soil at the Kew Gardens.

Anilios broomi, also known commonly as Broom's blind snake, the faint-striped blind snake, and the striate blind snake, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Anilios diversus, or the northern blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interior blind snake</span> Species of reptile

Anilios endoterus is commonly known as the interior blind snake. It is one of 42 species of snake in the genus Anilios (Ramphotyphlops) from the Typhlopidae family living in Australia. These snakes appear to be blind, having vestigial eyes that are extremely sensitive to light. It is a cryptic burrowing snake that lives in tunnels underground, living mainly on a diet of ants. They are found in arid and semi-arid desert regions of central Australia and are considered endangered in New South Wales (NSW).

The Kimberley deep-soil blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

The buff-snouted blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

The blackish blind snake is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family native to south-eastern Australia.

Anilios silvia, also known commonly as the great sandy blind snake or Sylvia's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to northeastern Australia.

The Darwin blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

The beaked blind snake, also known commonly as Waite's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae.

The brown-snouted blind snake, also known commonly as Wied's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

<i>Indotyphlops</i> Genus of snakes

Indotyphlops is a genus of snakes of the family Typhlopidae. The genus is endemic to Asia.

Indotyphlops lazelli, commonly known as the Hong Kong blind snake or Lazell's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. This species is characterized by having 18 scale rows. It is endemic to Hong Kong.

Anilios ganei, also known commonly as Gane's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

References

  1. Shea, G., Stuart, B.L., Chan-Ard, T., Wogan, G., Srinivasulu, C., Srinivasulu, B., Vijayakumar, S.P., Ramesh, M., Ganesan, S.R., Madala, M., Sreekar, R., Shankar, G., Allison, A., Hamilton, A., Tallowin, O., Beraduccii, J., Howell, K., Msuya, C.A., Ngalason, W., Parker, F., O'Shea, M. & Iskandar, D. 2021. Indotyphlops braminus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T172704A1370555. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T172704A1370555.en. Accessed on 07 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Hošek, J. (eds.). "Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803)". The Reptile Database.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ramphotyphlops braminus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  5. Cogger, Harold (2014). Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 1036. ISBN   978-0-643-10035-0. OCLC   858573072.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Brahminy Blind Snake at the Florida State Museum of Natural History. Accessed 30 August 2007.
  7. Brahminy Blind Snake- One of the Worlds Smallest Snake, MeBlog, Sep 4, 2018, retrieved 2022-12-08
  8. The one of the smallest snake in the world
  9. "Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803)".
  10. 1 2 Whitaker, Romulus (1978). Common Indian Snakes: A Field Guide. Chennai: Macmillan India Limited. p. 3. ISBN   978-0333901984.
  11. Aru Islands: requires confirmation according to McDowell, 1974:25
  12. Zamora-Camacho, Francisco Javier (30 July 2017). "On the role of plant nurseries introducing Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803), in Spain". Herpetozoa. 30 (1/2): 69–72.
  13. Bowler, John (2018). Wildlife of Madeira and the Canary Islands. Wild Guides. p. 164. ISBN   9780691170763.
  14. Paolino, Giovanni; Scotti, Raffaella; Grano, Mauro (2019). "First detection of the "flowerpot snake" Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803) (Serpentes Typhlopidae) in Ischia (Italy): A new possible invasive species". Biodiversity Journal. 10 (4): 321–324. doi: 10.31396/biodiv.jour.2019.10.4.321.324 . S2CID   213592951.
  15. "New snake species found in Malta may be invasive". 1 December 2020.
  16. Wynn, Addison H.; Cole, Charles J.; Gardner, Alfred L. (12 March 1987). "Apparent Triploidy in the Unisexual Brahminy Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops braminus". American Museum Novitates (2868): 1–7. hdl:2246/5203.
  17. Ota, Hidetoshi; Hikida, Tsutomu; Matsui, Masafumi; Mori, Akira; Wynn, Addison H. (1 January 1991). "Morphological variation, karyotype and reproduction of the parthenogenetic blind snake, Ramphotyphlops braminus, from the insular region of East Asia and Saipan". Amphibia-Reptilia. 12 (2): 181–193. doi:10.1163/156853891X00158.
  18. Mezzasalma, Marcello; Andreone, Franco; Glaw, Frank; Petraccioli, Agnese; Odierna, Gaetano; Guarino, Fabio Maria (September 2016). "A karyological study of three typhlopid species with some inferences on chromosome evolution in blindsnakes (Scolecophidia)". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 264: 34–40. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2016.07.001.
  19. Wallach, Van (May 2020). "How to easily identify the flowerpot blindsnake, Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803), with proposal of a new genus (Serpentes: Typhlopidae)" (PDF). Pod@rcis. Vol. 11, no. 1. pp. 4–12.
  20. Wallach, Van (2020). "First appearance of the Brahminy Blindsnake, Virgotyphlops braminus (Daudin 1803) (Squamata: Typhlopidae), in North America, with reference to the states of Mexico and the USA". IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians. 27 (2): 326–330. doi: 10.17161/randa.v27i2.14491 . S2CID   238115067.

Further reading