Texas Blind Snake

Range

They primarily inhabit the Southwestern United States.

Habitats

They are usually found buried deep in thin soil, coming out to feed or when their homes get flooded by rain. It can be seen usually after spring rain. They hunt for food by flicking their tongue to taste and smell the trail of ants and termites, following the trail to their nests. They rake the ants and termites with their top jaw and swallow the food whole. The Texas Blind snakes lay one to twenty round eggs in a breeding season with the young ones looking after themselves.

Identification

This snake specie looks alot like a shiny earthworm. It is brown in color with a deep lustre in its scales. It does not seem to be segmented. They have smooth scales along their bodies which allows them travel through the soil moving through burrows made by insects. The adults can attain a maximum length of 27cm (including the tail). It has a small mouth which is set in an under bite, they have a forked tongue. The eyes are very tiny and look no more than two small dots at the top of its head. The body of the Texas blind snake has the exact same thickness along its length, it also has a very short tail ending in a conical spine.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians