Texas Blind Snake
Rena dulcis
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 alon…
How to identify
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.
Range
They primarily inhabit the Southwestern United States.
Habitat
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.
Variations
Rena dulcis dulcis Rena dulcis rubellum Rena dulcis supraorbicularis
Similar species
The Rena humilis (Western blind snake) resembles a long earthworm. It is pink, purple and silvery-brown in color, they are shiny and blunt at both ends. It can attain a maximum length of about 28cm including the tail. Rena unguirostris (Southern blind snake) has a color that can be from a purplish-grey to pink with a cream belly. They can attain a maximum length of 42cm including the tail. Anilios proximus (Proximus blind snake) has a shiny dark brown appearance with no discernable head and really tiny eyes covered with scales. It can attain a maximum length of 75cm the tail included.
Name and etymology
Dulcis: Latin for sweet.
At a glance
Range
They primarily inhabit the Southwestern United States.
Habitat
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…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap