Indotyphlops

These are the so-called blind snakes, and as their name suggests, they are masters of life underground. Found mainly across South Asia and Southeast Asia, from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia and beyond, Indotyphlops includes more than 20 species. What makes them unique compared to other snakes is their size and lifestyle: they are usually very small, thin, and worm-like, with some species measuring only a few centimeters long. This makes them easy to mistake for earthworms at first glance, but a closer look reveals that they are indeed reptiles, complete with tiny scales, jaws, and even vestiges of eyes.

The most striking characteristic of Indotyphlops species is their adaptation to a burrowing lifestyle. Their bodies are smooth, shiny, and cylindrical, with blunt heads that allow them to push through soil, leaf litter, and decaying wood. Unlike most snakes, their tails are short and end in a small spike that helps them anchor themselves while moving underground. Their eyes, though present, are reduced to tiny dark spots beneath the skin and are functionally useless for vision. Instead, they rely on their excellent sense of smell and sensitivity to vibrations to navigate the dark world beneath the surface.

When it comes to diet, they feed primarily on ants and termites, including not just the adults but also their eggs, larvae, and pupae. Using their slender bodies, they slip into ant nests and termite mounds, consuming large numbers of insects in a single sitting. Their narrow jaws are designed for swallowing many tiny prey items quickly, rather than tackling larger animals like rodents or birds, which makes them very different from most familiar snakes. By keeping insect populations in check, they play an important role in balancing ecosystems, even though they are rarely seen or noticed by people.