Species

Brahminy blindsnake

Indotyphlops braminus

A tiny, worm-like snake from Asia, spread around the world in potted plants.

Photo Thomas Brown (opens in a new tab) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab)

Urban wildlife

At a glance

Size: Usually 10 to 17 cm long
Habitat: Loose soil in gardens, flower beds and potted plants
Diet: Ant and termite eggs and larvae
In Georgia: Scattered in gardens, mainly in the south; introduced
Venomous: No
Rabies vector: No

Identification

Key marks: Tiny, shiny, dark brown to black, like an earthworm; blunt head with tiny eyes; tiny spine on the tail
Told apart from: Earthworms, which are segmented and have no scales
Where to look: In potting soil and under stones in gardens

Behaviour

Every Brahminy blindsnake is female: they reproduce without males, so a single snake in a flowerpot can start a population. They burrow and feed on the young of ants and termites.

Why they matter

It has spread worldwide with the plant trade and is now one of the most widespread snakes on Earth. It is harmless and seems to have little effect where it arrives.

Reproduction and lifecycle

Eggs — Usually 1 to 8, from females alone
Nest — In soil
Incubation — About 6 to 8 weeks
Hatchlings — Tiny, worm-like
Maturity — Within a couple of years
Lifespan — A few years

Living around people

It is harmless and cannot bite people.

Misconceptions

It is a worm. It is a tiny snake, with scales and eyes.

Related species

Common wormsnake

Seasonal activity

When this species is breeding, and when there are nests on the ground. Mowing during the shaded months is how most nests are found.

Breeding and active nests by month for this species
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Breeding	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Active nests	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Notes	Deep in soil	Deep in soil	Active in warm soil	Active	Laying	Active	Active	Hatching	Active	Active	Deep in soil	Deep in soil

Where it lives

Recorded in 38 states and provinces. Each one links to the other animals there, and to the rehabilitators licensed for them.

United States

If you found one

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