Ramphotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803)
Family: Typhlopidae Brahminy blind snake, flower pot snake. Status: Indigenous? The flower pot snake is a small wormlike species with a dark brown to black coloration. Large adults may reach up to 150 mm. The ventral surface is generally lighter than the dorsal and the scales are uniformly sized around the body. The eyes are vestigial and appear as small dark spots beneath scales on the head. There is a small hard spine on the tail tip that is often pressed into the hand if captured. This snake is more likely to be confused with a worm than any other reptile in the region. The presence of scales will separate the two. Biology: Like the mourning gecko and the pacific slender-toed gecko this is an all female species that reproduces a sexually. Two to eight eggs are laid in moist earth or similar site. It feeds primarily on the soft bodied young of ants and termites. This snake leads a primarily subterranean existence, coming to the surface after rains or during prolonged dry periods (pers. obs.). It is seen with surprising frequency on tree trunks and arboreal termite nests. Distribution: This species has been introduced widely throughout the tropics and subtropics. It occurs on most of the Mariana Islands, especially those visited by humans. |