Reptiles · Squamata · Typhlopidae

Brahminy Blindsnake

Indotyphlops braminus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Indotyphlops braminus is a snake of the family Typhlopidae. Although native to Africa and Asia, it has been introduced to the Americas and Australia. It is a small, blind, burrowing snake, often mistaken for an earthworm. It is the only unisexual snake species known so far, and reproduces by parthenogenesis. No subspecies are recognised.

Size

5 cm – 17 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestTemperate forestGrasslandInsectivore Nocturnal Solitary Reptile Rainforest Temperate forest Grassland

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Fun facts

The entire species is female: it reproduces by obligate parthenogenesis, and each female produces clones of herself with no need of a male. No male has ever been found.
That mode of reproduction has made it the most widespread snake in the world: a single one arriving in the soil of a flowerpot is enough to found a whole population.
It is so small and unobtrusive that many people mistake it for an earthworm, and it turns up frequently in pots and gardens in warm regions on five continents without anyone noticing it.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Soil, leaf litter, flowerpots and gardens in warm regions worldwide
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 40 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 5 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indotyphlops_braminus