What are blind snakes?

Although this seems like a simple question, what are blind snakes has different answers. The blind snakes are not blind, as their eyes are only protected from ants by a thin layer of skin. Being cold-blooded reptiles, the blind snakes are able to detect any warm-blooded animal around them. They are non-venomous snakes with shiny and slippery scales. The question what are blind snakes is entitled, as sometimes those snakes can be mistaken with a dangerous poisonous snake.

shape of the body

The blind snakes can be recognized by their long heads, long round bodies and the short tail with only one row of plates. However, the best method to distinguish a poisonous snake from a harmful one is to look at their eyes. The venomous snakes have vertical pupils, while the other species have horizontal ones.

Feeding

The blind snakes hunt mainly in the night, and some of them are also great climbers, being able to hunt asleep birds in the trees. Usually, the blind snakes are small, so they would rather hunt termites and roaches, but some larger species can go for small birds and rats. The majority of them have the behavior of earthworms, hiding in the earth and running from fights with larger enemies. They are also able to use the termite galleries, so they can go from one place to another in a short period.

Mating

The blind snakes reproduce by laying eggs. The maximum length of a blind snake is 40 centimeters, and they can be found in South America and Southwest Asia. More than 300 different species were found, but it is believed that more species can be found in the depths of the Amazonian forest. The blind snakes are not so careful with their eggs, so only 10 % will hatch. The eggs are the perfect food for rats and small birds, and the blind snake is not so great at camouflaging a nest.
    
Distribution

The blind snake is an endangered specie in many parts of the world. It can be found practically everywhere, but the majority of habitats are compromised or destroyed. With the deforestation of the Amazonian forest, it is estimated that more than 100 species of blind snakes disappeared.



The blind snake likes to hunt after the rain when the insects come out of the ground. The blind snakes are not blind, but they are sensitive to light. Usually, they have a uniform black color, but the nuances might also be of green and yellow. They also have a slippery appearance that makes people to confuse them with worms. There are no venomous species of blind snakes, and they are also useful for gardens, preventing the termite’s invasions. The bigger species are useful for barns and shelters, as those blind snakes have a huge appetite for mice and locusts. In some parts of Asia, they are considered an exclusive food that can only be found in the 5-star restaurants. 

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Brahminy Blind Snake

The Brahminy Blind Snake doesn’t have the common characteristics of the average snake living on the territory of the United States, and this is why it is supposed it was brought accidentally from other countries two or three centuries ago.

The common American name is the Flower Pot Snake. It has a length of 4-6 inches. The female usually lays the eggs during the late spring, and the babies have two inches at most after hatching. This is why it is considered a reptile of the small snake’s family. A curiosity about this species is that it has no males, and the eggs are created trough cell division once a year. The female lays 2-8 eggs a year. Being a small snake, it feeds with insects with a soft body that can be easily digested. From this point of view, it is really useful for farms and crops, as it is known that the Brahminy Blind Snake eats a huge quantity of insects every day.

The snake can be easily confused with a worm because of its small appearance and dark color. It has a dark brown color with light reflexes. However, this is a huge disadvantage, as the Brahminy Blind Snake can be easily observed by birds and other predators. It is also a prey for other snakes, and because of its slow reproducing process, it might become an endangered specie in the future.

Some specialists might consider the Brahminy Blind Snake as a part of the earthworm family. However, the earthworms have their body segmented, while this snake is different. This is the most important difference that makes Brahminy a snake, not an earthworm. Moreover, this snake is not able to increase the length of its body, and this is another noticeable difference. Brahminy also has a spur at the top of the tail.

The Brahminy Blind Snake is one of the smallest snakes in USA and also one of the smallest snakes in the world. The snake lives in South Asia, but it can be found in different areas of the world, being brought there during the industrial and transportation revolution. Of course, it has an incredible adaptability, as you can find this specie of snake from the northern areas of USA to the tropical areas of Asia.

However, we can’t talk about a constant population in USA. The snake was reported in some areas, but we are talking about single exemplars. There are some people interested of breeding this snake in USA, considering its usefulness for agriculture purposes.

The snake can be found in urban and rural areas of USA, and it has no preferences about a certain type of habitat. Considering its feeding preferences, the Brahminy Blind Snake can adapt practically everywhere.

Just as any other subtropical small snake, the Brahminy Blind Snake lives underground, but also in rotten wood and other warm places. During the winter, the snake will rarely get out of its shelter. This snake also likes the fresh dug soil, so you might find it in your backyard or in your garden.