Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)

We (Me, Chan Kwok Wai and Lim Swee Cheng) were on an open field near International Business Park on 7 May 2006 at about 4pm, when Kwok Wai lifted a small rock and found a pair of these tiny snakes. Ever since then, we realised that Brahminy Blind Snakes (Ramphotyphlops braminus), indeed, can be found on soil under rocks pretty easily. In fact, these creatures are so common in flowerpots that they are also known as Flowerpot Blind Snakes. That is how this species is being transported to all over the world, including places (e.g. Hawaii) that do not have any native snakes. According to Cox et al. (1998), This species is found throughout Thailand, Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, Africa, the Middle East, the remainder of tropical Asia and parts of eastern temperate Asia, islands across the Pacifics, Mexico, and the United States. These snakes occur from sea level up to 1,640 m (Cox, et al., 1998).

The most interesting fact about Brahminy Blind Snakes is that it is the only known parthenogenetic snake species; all individuals are females and males are unknown (Lim & Lim, 1992; Cox, et al., 1998)! Females produce clutches of 1-7 eggs, measuring 2 x 6 mm, without fertilization; all eggs develop into females (Lim & Lee, 1989; Cox, et al., 1998).

According to Lim and Lee (1989), Brahminy Blind Snakes feed on soft-bodied insects. Lim and Lim (1992) claimed that they feed on minute soil-dwelling invertebrates. Cox et al. (1998) claimed that these snakes feed mainly on the larvae of ants and termites.

These non-venomous snakes are very common, nocturnal, and the adults can reach up to only 15 cm in length (Lim & Lee, 1989; Lim & Lim, 1992; Cox et al., 1998).






From left to right: Dorsal side of head; Left side of head; Dorsal side of body; Ventral side of body; Dorsal side of tail' Ventral side of trail

* Photographs from Mr Chan Kwok Wai and Lim Swee Cheng

REFERENCES
Cox, M. J., van Dijk, P. P., Nabhitabhata, J. & Thirakhupt, K., 1998. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, p. 12.

Lim, F. L. K. & Lee, M. T. M., 1989. Fascinating Snakes of Southeast Asia – an Introduction. Tropical Press, Kuala Lumpur, p. 30.

Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K., 1992. A Guide To The Amphibians & Reptiles Of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, p. 147.