Xerotyphlops vermicularis

Xerotyphlops vermicularis
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Typhlopidae
Genus:	Xerotyphlops
Species:	X. vermicularis
Binomial name
	Xerotyphlops vermicularis; Merrem, 1820
Synonyms
	Typhlops vermicularis; Typhlops flavescens; Argyrophis vermicularis; Typhlops syriacus; Typhlops persicus;

Last updated July 03, 2025

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.^[2] The northernmost region it inhabits is just north of the Gulf of Burgas in Bulgaria.^[3] The common name results from the fact that is the only blindsnake naturally found in Europe (the brahminy blindsnake, Indotyphlops braminus , has been introduced to Kew Gardens and in Italy and Spain).^[2]^[4]

Description

Xerotyphlops vermicularis is a small, earthworm-like snake that has a maximum length of 35 cm.^[5]^[6] The head, body, and tail generally have no differentiation between them and look like one fluid segment.^[6] The coloration tends to be light brown, yellowish, or flesh colored.^[7] Juveniles do not usually have different coloring than the adults, but some have been known to look pinkish when they are smaller.^[5]^[6] It is difficult to tell male and female European blind snakes apart; however, males will generally have longer tails than the females.^[8]

Reproduction

Courtship

X. vermicularis is generally found underneath rocks in groups when mating season is beginning.^[3] Their mating behavior typically follows a three-step process:^[8]

Tactile-chase: males first contact with female; involves chemosensory sampling as well as rubbing and biting the female.^[8]
Tactile-alignment: males initial attempt at copulation; tactile-chase behaviors can also occur at the same time; male attempts to align tail with the females.^[8]
Intromission Coitus: females open their cloaca and allow males to insert their hemipenes.^[8]

Due to the size of these snakes, the beginning and end of each phase is difficult to differentiate.^[8]

Copulation

This process takes place during the months of May and June and egg laying takes place between July and August. The male is wrapped around the mid-section of the female with their cloacae pressed closely together. They stay connected like that for roughly 1-2 minutes and afterwards the male disconnects himself from the female and moves away.^[8]

References

↑ Aghasyan, A.; Avci, A.; Tuniyev, B.; Crnobrnja-Isailović, J.; Lymberakis, P.; Andrén, C.; Cogălniceanu, D.; Wilkinson, J.; Ananjeva, N.B.; Üzüm, N.; Orlov, N.L.; Podloucky, R.; Tuniyev, S.; Kaya, U.; Ajtic, R.; Tok, V.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Sevinç, M.; Crochet, P.-A.; Disi, A.M.; Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Sadek, R.; Werner, Y.L.; Haxhiu, I.,, Baha El Din, S.; Sterijovski, B.; Böhme, W.; Jelić, D.; Borkin, L.; Milto, K.; Golynsky, E.; Rustamov, A.; Nuridjanov, D.; Munkhbayar, K. (2017). "Xerotyphlops vermicularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T157274A747386. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157274A747386.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
1 2 O'Shea, Mark (2007). Boas and Pythons of the World. New Holland Publishers. p. 68. ISBN 9781845375447.
1 2 Koynova, Teodora; Marinova, Pavlina; Stanchev, Nikola; Natchev, Nikolay; Jablonski, Daniel (2021-11-25). "New records of Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) indicate the northernmost locality of the species in the Balkan Peninsula". Check List. 17 (6): 1623–1626. doi: 10.15560/17.6.1623 . ISSN 1809-127X.
↑ Xerotyphlops vermicularis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 29 July 2018.
1 2 Amr, Zuhair S.; Disi, Ahmad M. (2011-06-22). "Systematics, distribution and ecology of the snakes of Jordan". Vertebrate Zoology. 61 (2): 179–266. doi: 10.3897/vz.61.e31150 . ISSN 2625-8498.
1 2 3 Akman, Bahadır; Göçmen, Bayram (2019-06-30). "Comparison of the Blind Snake Populations, Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) (Squamata: Typhlopidae) in Turkey and Cyprus: Morphology, Serology, Ecology, and Geometric Morphometrics". Commagene Journal of Biology. 3 (1): 6–18. doi:10.31594/commagene.522170. ISSN 2602-456X.
↑ Afsar, Murat; Çiçek, Kerim; Tayhan, Yahya; TOK, Cemal Varol. "New records of Eurasian Blind Snake, Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) from the Black Sea region of Turkey and its updated distribution". Biharean Biologist. 10 (2): 98–103 – via ResearchGate.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dyugmedzhiev, Angel; Andonov, Kostadin; Krastev, Georgi (2023). "Insights into the courtship and copulation of the worm snake Xerotyphlops vermicularis". The Herpetological Bulletin. 164: 30–32. doi: 10.33256/hb164.3032 .

External links

Data related to Xerotyphlops vermicularis at Wikispecies
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[iucn_status_18_November_2021-1] Aghasyan, A.; Avci, A.; Tuniyev, B.; Crnobrnja-Isailović, J.; Lymberakis, P.; Andrén, C.; Cogălniceanu, D.; Wilkinson, J.; Ananjeva, N.B.; Üzüm, N.; Orlov, N.L.; Podloucky, R.; Tuniyev, S.; Kaya, U.; Ajtic, R.; Tok, V.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Sevinç, M.; Crochet, P.-A.; Disi, A.M.; Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Sadek, R.; Werner, Y.L.; Haxhiu, I.,, Baha El Din, S.; Sterijovski, B.; Böhme, W.; Jelić, D.; Borkin, L.; Milto, K.; Golynsky, E.; Rustamov, A.; Nuridjanov, D.; Munkhbayar, K. (2017). "Xerotyphlops vermicularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T157274A747386. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157274A747386.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[Oshea1-2] 1 2 O'Shea, Mark (2007). Boas and Pythons of the World. New Holland Publishers. p. 68. ISBN 9781845375447.

[:0-3] 1 2 Koynova, Teodora; Marinova, Pavlina; Stanchev, Nikola; Natchev, Nikolay; Jablonski, Daniel (2021-11-25). "New records of Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) indicate the northernmost locality of the species in the Balkan Peninsula". Check List. 17 (6): 1623–1626. doi: 10.15560/17.6.1623 . ISSN 1809-127X.

[RDB-4] Xerotyphlops vermicularis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 29 July 2018.

[:1-5] 1 2 Amr, Zuhair S.; Disi, Ahmad M. (2011-06-22). "Systematics, distribution and ecology of the snakes of Jordan". Vertebrate Zoology. 61 (2): 179–266. doi: 10.3897/vz.61.e31150 . ISSN 2625-8498.

[:2-6] 1 2 3 Akman, Bahadır; Göçmen, Bayram (2019-06-30). "Comparison of the Blind Snake Populations, Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) (Squamata: Typhlopidae) in Turkey and Cyprus: Morphology, Serology, Ecology, and Geometric Morphometrics". Commagene Journal of Biology. 3 (1): 6–18. doi:10.31594/commagene.522170. ISSN 2602-456X.

[7] Afsar, Murat; Çiçek, Kerim; Tayhan, Yahya; TOK, Cemal Varol. "New records of Eurasian Blind Snake, Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) from the Black Sea region of Turkey and its updated distribution". Biharean Biologist. 10 (2): 98–103 – via ResearchGate.

[:32-8] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dyugmedzhiev, Angel; Andonov, Kostadin; Krastev, Georgi (2023). "Insights into the courtship and copulation of the worm snake Xerotyphlops vermicularis". The Herpetological Bulletin. 164: 30–32. doi: 10.33256/hb164.3032 .

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