IndoTyphlops

Smooth scales. Tiny scale covered eye visible as a dot. Head width same as body. Often mistaken for a worm. Brahminy Worm Snake is the most widely distributed and commonest snake of planet Earth. Due to its life cycle of living in flowerpot and as a burrower it rapidly distributed in most of the tropical countries and its population increase was supported by parthenogenetic reproduction. This is the only snake which is not known for male individuals, the whole population consists only female. In majority of countries of its range this is the smallest snake for country except few Asian countries (India, Sri Lanka etc.). Additionally, this is the very first and probably the only invasive reptile for most of the countries. During monsoon months Brahminy Worm Snake becomes the most encountered snake in urban and other areas where no other snake is living. Morphologically this species can be identified easily in most of the parts of range (for most of the parts it’s the only species of blind Snake) by checking glossy and cylindrical body of brown to black colour, rounded snout which bears four vertical sutures, very short tail with a single spine.

It looks close to earthworms, worms, some parasites etc. As Blind Snakes are very hard to identify with external observation in live state, it looks close to all sister species found in its range. This includes hundreds of species sympatric to it. In India it is found to be confusing with all blind Snakes of genus Gerrhopilus and Indotyphlops which always falls within its range. 

DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERES

Head:

Rostral 0.25–0.33 of interocular head width, does not reach to level of eyes, anterior constriction visible from top; supraocular oblique, twice as long as broad. Larger than frontal, postfrontal and interparietal, occasionally transversely short; parietals transverse, enlarged and occipitals occasionally enlarged. Nostrils circular with a nearly horizontal and transverse nasal canal; nasal completely divided, posterior border strongly concave, inferior nasal suture contacts preocular and superior nasal suture extends to dorsal of snout to contact rostral at point of constriction on it; preocular and ocular subequal in size; eye small, usually with distinct pupil, located near or partially under the lateral border of supraocular; a single postocular, twice the height of dorsal scales; supralabial imbrication pattern (SIP) T–III, fourth supralabial larger than other three Supralabials combined and subequal to ocular, with a posterior notch suggests the fusion of another scale with the supralabial. 

Anterior head shields usually bear distinct rows of whitish glands beneath their posterior borders, with the prenatal gland line confluent with the posterior rostral gland line dorsally to the exclusion of the anterior rostral gland line. Tongue with a pair of lateral papillae near base of bifurcation.

Body:

Body scales imbricate and often cycloid at least in dorsal region; appear more trapezoidal in shape with nearly point contact in underside region. Tail slightly longer than broad; apical spine with stout base, directed horizontally. Body scales in invariable 20 rows, i.e., scale row reduction absent. Scale rows different than 20 are incorrectly mentioned for this species. 261–368 transverse scale rows at mid body. Majority of individuals bear row of 290–350.  Middorsal width/interocular head width= 0.22-0.36. Total length/Midbody diameter= 30-60. Tail length/Total length= 1.5-3.5. Tail length/mid tail diameter= 0.7-2.0. Subcaudal 8-15.

Indotyphlops braminus is distinguished from all other members of the Typhlopidae by the combination of: 1) the inferior nasal suture in contact with the preocular shield 2) the superior nasal suture extending to the dorsal of snout to contact the rostral and 3) greater than 270 middorsal scales. Alternatively, it is separable from all Serpents in being a unisexual, obligate parthenogen and having point contact of the ventral scales, each of which has a black spot anteriorly.

CYCLICTY

Brahminy Worm Snake becomes abundant in sighting during monsoon months with variety of size including new born and fully grown adults. During winter all population burrows deep inside the soil and roots of vegetation to spend whole season in hibernation or with extremely low activity. Same during summer, it barely comes on ground due to high temperature of surface and prefers to stay underground which is much cooler.

REPRODUCTION

It is an all-female triploid species having no evidence of male individuals till now. It reproduces parthenogenetically without fertilization by sperm and thus can build up a population from just one individual. No other type of reproduction is known about this species. Female lays 2-7 eggs of long boiled rice shape during summer in insect holes, loose soil having proper aeration, under undisturbed leaf litter, under rocks etc. New born individuals (35mm approx.) become abundant during monsoon after rains. 

Female lays 2-7 eggs of long boiled rice shape during summer in insect holes, loose soil having proper aeration, under undisturbed leaf litter, under rocks etc. Seems to be the only parthenogenetic snake species known so far (another one may be Acrochordus arafurae). Reports of “male” Ramphotyphlops braminus (Wall, 1918, 1921, one from Assam, India; List, 1958, two from Sri Lanka) most likely stem from mis identiations of braminus-like members of the Typhlops pammeces group (Wallach 2009). Wynn et al. (1987) and Ota et al. (1991) demonstrated that R. braminus is a triploid parthenogenetic species.

MIGRATION

Migration is not known for this species like other Blind Snakes. All individuals can spend their whole life in a small patch of land (garden, house etc).

DISPERSAL

As already known, this is the fastest dispersed reptile species and still dispersing rapidly in newly occupied lands, islands and continents due to living in flowerpots and mode of reproduction which don't need copulation with males. There is not particular timing and strategy of dispersal, all is done only by transportation of soils or anything in which it can burrow itself.

SIZE 

Smallest known length - 3.5mm

Sexually matured minimum known size - 95 mm

Average length - 120 mm (12cm.)

Maximum length-Approximately 200mm (20cm) 

Weight:

The lightest and heaviest recorded specimens of I. braminus are from Thailand, 0.05 gm and 1.87 gm respectively. In a study mean body weight for 355 live or freshly killed specimens was 0.23 gm for juveniles while 0.74 gm for adults.

MORPHOLOGY

Body thin (not thicker than a gel pen refill in general comparison), small, cylindrical and covered with very small and subequal scales. Head short, very slightly or not broader than neck, very slightly depressed but can be best observed from lateral view; snout rounded. Eyes very small and in the form of black dot on slightly lower side of the top of head. Tongue colour white, with a pair of lateral papillae near base of bifurcation. In light and moderately dark specimens each scale is marked with triangular apical spot-on front which occupies 1/4-1/2 of respective scale. Colour ranges from uniform glossy black, wide range of brown colour, reddish-brown etc. on upper side which usually become more or less faint underside; new born individuals always have jet black or glossy black colour including snout and other parts. In dark specimens this difference of underside lighter than upper may not be noticed. In deserts, semi-deserts of its range colour are much lighter (pinkish) while in regions having low temperature range or during winters it shows majority of dark coloration. Snout colour lighter with whitish sutures, in dark individuals head sutures produce contrast and can be clearly seen. Lower of snout, chin, cloacal region, tip of tail (which ends with a spine) usually much lighter and often of white colour.

Nasals completely divided, 20 scales around midbody, 290-320 transverse rows of scales. Supralabials: 4 (3rd, 4th touches eye); Infralabials: 5-6; Preocular:1; Supraocular:1. Dorsum glossy reddish or blackish brown. Venter paler than dorsum.

ECOLOGY

During winter all population burrows deep inside the soil and roots of vegetation to spend whole season in hibernation or with extremely low activity. Same during summer, it barely comes on ground due to high temperature of surface and prefers to stay underground which is much cooler. It is a nocturnal species which can be seen during low light of daytime and evening. Locomotion typically serpentine and use tail spine to anchor on rough surface to contract its body back if needed. Behaviour restless, terrestrial while doing locomotion and strongly burrowing for greater part of its life.

BEHAVIOUR

Brahminy Worm Snake is a nocturnal species which can be seen during low light of daytime and evening. Locomotion typically serpentine and use tail spine to anchor on rough surface to contract its body back if needed. Behaviour restless, terrestrial while doing locomotion and strongly burrowing for greater part of its life. Almost always non-offensive and cannot harm large bodied enemy (like mammals, rodents, birds etc.) except poking their spiny tail on body to distract their attention or make surprise for a while. No aggressive display is known for this and probably all other Worm/Blind Snakes.

Feeds on eggs and larvae of almost all kind of insects if they are ingestible for it. In a single feeding attempt it consumes multiple number of eggs and larvae because one or two cannot fulfil its nutrition needs.

PREDATORS

Other big and small snakes, various carnivorous and omnivorous birds, large amphibians, carnivorous insects which can hunt on anything with their venom or mechanical strength or any living organism visiting lands for foraging.

PREY

Various big and small, insects which lays eggs and their larvae also grows on ground or underground in holes. Earthworms, many non-ophiophagic snakes, non-predatory burrowing insects etc.

VENOMOSITY

Indotyphlops, do not possess venom glands and are not considered venomous.

GENERAL HABITAT

Brahminy Worm Snake is usually a species of low to moderate elevations in majority of parts of its range. In India it has been recorded from 0–1515 meter while its highest known limit is Papua New Guinea (2600 meter). It is distributed in almost all kind of forests and lands except North & South poles, most of Europe, geographical regions closer to North-pole and having usually low annual temperature. Found in dry deciduous, moist deciduous, mixed deciduous, rainforest, grassland, deserts, semi-deserts, evergreen thorny forests, mangroves, coastal forest, variety of forests of Islands, wetlands, swamps, rocky terrain etc. Can be found in many more forests and geographical region in future with increase in transportation of carrying goods like plants, flowerpots, soil etc. Micro habitat is any kind of land having loose and slightly moist soil, narrow cracks, low vegetation having loose roots or any kind of object which can help it to hide under it with appropriate temperature in opposite weather. Due to its small size and different mode of reproduction it can survive well in most of the habitat of variety of elevation and climatic conditions.

Floodplain forest under logs. Often seen inside houses. Brahminy Worm Snake is usually a species of low to moderate elevations in majority of parts of its range. It is distributed in almost all kind of forests and lands except North & South poles and found in dry decidious, moist decidious, mixed deciduous, rainforest, grassland, deserts, semi-deserts, evergreen thorny forests, mangroves, coastal forest, variety of forests of Islands, wetlands, swamps, rocky terrain etc.

• This is the most widely distributed terrestrial reptile.

• One of the two most widely distributed snake in whole planet. Second one is Pelagic Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus) which is a marine species and found in multiple oceans.

• The most rapidly distributed and increasing reptile species.

• The only snake which is known for females only.

• The only snake which is having parthenogenetic reproduction as the only used type of reproduction for population increase.

• The smallest snake for majority of countries where it is invasive.

• The very first and probably the only reptile accidently incorporated to more than 90 countries and still adding.

• For most of the countries it is now the only representative of family Typhlopidae (family of Blind/Worm Snakes). 

• The only triploid snake (all other species are diploid).