Worm Snake

Formerly called: Typhlina bramina

Family:   Typhlopidae   
Genus:   Typhlina   
Species: bramina

Nick Name: The Worm Snake

Size: 12.5 cm when born; 3.5 cm, Max:  17 cm

Type: Non Venomous Snake

Appearance:  Smooth, shiny scales on the entire body; a bent head and tail; No variation in color throughout the body. Generally the snake has got a reddish brown or black colored. The scales overlap on one another and a rainbow gloss is visible when light falls on them. They look like earthworms but we can distinguish them based on the presence of scales. The tail of the snake is bent and exactly looks like the head and bears a small spine. Its eyes are like small black dots which are covered by the scales. This is a modification for its burrowing habitat.      

Nature: This is a burrowing snake and has adapted to this life-style. As there are a lot of predators of this snake, it comes up to the surface only at night. They emit a foul smell when caught and pretend like stinging venom with their small spine present in the tail region. Though they are totally non venomous. The foul smell they emit helps by keeping away the potential predators.

Habitat: It burrows in soft soil and is often found in termite mounds. They are also found bellow tree logs, humid leaves, humid - temperate forests and in city gardens burrowing in the fertile soil.

Distribution: Including Andaman Nicobar Islands, the snake is distributed almost throughout India. Even in the mountain ranges, it dwells very well bellow 1000m height from the sea level.

Reproduction: They lay around about 5-8 eggs. The time when these snake species lay their eggs is not yet known.

Feeds on: They feed on worms, soft larvae, ants, termites and their eggs. The captivated worm snakes in the Chennai Snake Park are known to be feeding on earth worms !

Side Line:

• These are said to be the worlds smallest snakes !

• They are distributed throughout the world. They are even found on islands where snakes are not known to live; namely New Zealand, Hawaii islands, Lakshya dweep of India. It is believed that they might have been imported into these islands through the flower pots.

  The underside of the body is pale colored.Out of around 14 species of such worm snakes found in India, this species is commonly encountered. Very little is known about these snakes.

• Herpetologists believe that these are one of the oldest snakes on the face of earth. They are very wel l adapted for the burrowing habitat.

• It looks much like an earth worm but on closer inspection the scales become obvious, thus differentiating the snake from the worm.

• The eyes cannot form images but are sophisticated enough to register light intensity. The Brahminy Blind Snake is interesting in that all members of the species are female and reproduce through an asexual process know as parthenogenesis.