Typhlopidae – Typical blind snakes
Despite their name and appearance, they are indeed true snakes, not worms
A family of snakes renowned for their distinct appearance and unique behaviors. These snakes are found in warm climates all around the world, particularly thriving in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite being widespread, they are often overlooked due to their secretive, subterranean lifestyle and their resemblance to earthworms.
Blind snakes are among the smallest and most primitive of all snakes, with adults typically ranging from 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in) in length. Their bodies are slender, cylindrical, and highly flexible, which aids in their burrowing habits. The skin of a blind snake is smooth and glossy, often appearing in various shades of brown, pink, or gray, which helps them blend into their underground environments.
One of the most notable characteristics of Typhlopidae is their eyes, which are rudimentary and covered with scales or skin, rendering them effectively blind. These reduced eyes are only capable of distinguishing light from dark, which is sufficient for their needs given their nocturnal and burrowing nature. Their heads are small and blunt in shape, and they lack the distinct neck and tail regions seen in other snakes, giving them a worm-like appearance.
Blind snakes primarily feed on ants, termites, and their larvae. They have adapted to enter the nests of these insects, using their small size and earthworm-like appearance to avoid detection by the colony’s defenders. Their diet is supplemented by the eggs of insects and other small invertebrates. This specialized diet has led to some fascinating evolutionary adaptations. For instance, the lower jaw of blind snakes is slightly mobile and can move independently of the upper jaw, aiding them in extracting larvae and eggs from tight spaces within nests.
