DOI10.47051/QPPJ5554

Published April 18, 2025. Open access.

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Brahminy Blind Snake (Indotyphlops braminus)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Typhlopidae | Indotyphlops braminus

English common names: Brahminy Blind Snake, Flowerpot Blind Snake.

Spanish common names: Culebra ciega bráhmana, serpiente ciega afroasiática, culebra ciega de Brahminy, culebrita ciega de braminus, culebrilla de las macetas.

Recognition: ♀♀ 17.3 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail..1 Indotyphlops braminus is a tiny blind snake often mistaken for an earthworm. An introduced species in Ecuador, it can be distinguished from native blind snakes by rows of subcutaneous sebaceous glands along the head.2,3 A key diagnostic feature is the contact between the infranasal suture and the preocular scale; in other blind snakes, this suture typically connects with the first or second supralabial scale instead.2,3 The body is slender—about the width of a ballpoint pen’s ink tube—with 20 longitudinal scale rows and 305–338 mid-dorsal scales.1,4 Coloration ranges from jet black to rosy brown, with a paler snout, white chin, cloacal region, and tail tip (Fig. 1).3,5

Figure showing variation among individuals of Indotyphlops braminus

Figure 1: Individuals of Indotyphlops braminus: Ejido Tierra y Libertad, Chiapas state, México (); Guayacanes, Guayas province, Ecuador ().

Natural history: Indotyphlops braminus is a rarely observed, nocturnal, and fossorial snake. Daytime surface sightings typically occur when intense rainfall floods their burrows.5,6 Although often encountered in gardens, parks, and human dwellings, its natural habitats include coastal dunes and tropical forests.6–9 Preferred microhabitats include moist soil, leaf-litter, decaying logs, garbage piles, stacked bricks, stone piles, drainage ditches, gutters, ant mounds, and potted plant soil. Some individuals have been found on palm sheaths up to 2 meters above the ground.3,5,6 In Ecuador, the species has been recorded mainly in urban and peri-urban settings, particularly in parks and gardens with ornamental shrubs and palms.3 Its diet consists almost exclusively of ants and termites—particularly their eggs, larvae, pupae, and nymphs—with some prey being decapitated before ingestion.5,6,10 Orthopterans are also occasionally consumed.11 When captured, the Brahminy Blind Snake thrashes violently and presses its sharp tail tip against the captor, causing a harmless but intense itching sensation.4 Documented predators include armadillos,12 lizards such as Hemidactylus mabouia,6,13 toads,6,14,15 snakes,6,16 and spiders.17,18 This species typically lays an average of three eggs (range: 1–8) year-round in tropical climates, producing at least three clutches annually.19 In colder regions or at higher elevations, egg-laying occurs once a year or once every two years.5 Indotyphlops braminus is parthenogenetic, composed entirely of females that reproduce without mating through the duplication of an unfertilized egg’s genetic material.20 As a result, a single individual can establish a new population. This parthenogenesis is especially notable due to the species’ triploid condition—possessing three sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two.19,21

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Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..22 Indotyphlops braminus is listed in this category because this species is widely distributed (more so than any other terrestrial snake), has increasing populations, thrives in human-modified environments, and is invading new areas throughout the world.22

Distribution: Indotyphlops braminus, likely native to India and Sri Lanka, now holds the most widespread nonindigenous distribution of any snake species, with an estimated range exceeding 3.3 million km2.2–5 In the 19th century, it was reported in fewer than 40 countries, but by the 20th century, this number had doubled to 81.2–5 As of 2021, its presence has been confirmed in 122 territories, including countries, islands, and dependent regions.23 A global locality database tracking the species’ spread recently documented its arrival in South America, with the first confirmed record from Colombia. Its presence has since been verified in Ecuador as well (Fig. 2).3 The primary means of dispersal is believed to be unintentional transport in soil clods or root balls of ornamental and food plants moved by humans.24 Remarkably, a single individual introduced this way can establish a new population.4

Distribution of Indotyphlops braminus in Ecuador

Figure 2: Distribution of Indotyphlops braminus in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Etymology: The genus name Indotyphlops is a noun formed from the Latin adjective Indicus (=from India) and the Greek noun typhlops (=blind).25 The specific name braminus is the Latinized form of “Brahmin.” It refers to the priestly class in the traditional Hindu caste system, particularly in India. The term comes from the Sanskrit word ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa), meaning “pertaining to Brahman,” the ultimate reality or cosmic spirit in Hindu philosophy. Since this tiny, secretive snake was first described from India, and due to its mysterious, “hidden” lifestyle (being fossorial and often unnoticed), it may have seemed fitting to associate it with the Brahmin class, which was historically linked with knowledge, mysticism, and reclusion.

See it in the wild: In Ecuador, Brahminy Blind Snakes are sporadically found in urban gardens and peri-urban areas of Guayaquil city, including Parque Samanes, Parque Lineal Kennedy Norte, and Parque Clemente Yerovi. Daytime surface records are generally associated with the rainy season when the species ascends to the surface to breathe.3

Authors: Eduardo ZavalaaAffiliation: Independent researcher, Guayaquil, Ecuador. and Alejandro ArteagabAffiliation: Fundación Khamai, Reserva Arlequín, Ecoruta Paseo del Quinde km 56, Santa Rosa de Mindo, Pichincha 171202, Ecuador.

Photographers: Jose VieiracAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,dAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador. and Alejandro ArteagabAffiliation: Fundación Khamai, Reserva Arlequín, Ecoruta Paseo del Quinde km 56, Santa Rosa de Mindo, Pichincha 171202, Ecuador.

How to cite? Zavala E, Arteaga A (2025) Brahminy Blind Snake (Indotyphlops braminus). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/QPPJ5554

Literature cited:

  1. Dixon JR, Hendricks FS (1979) The wormsnakes (Family Typhlopidae) of the Neotropics, exclusive of the Antilles. Zoologische Verhandelingen 173: 3–39.
  2. Wallach V (2009) Ramphotyphlops braminus (Daudin): a synopsis of morphology, taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution (Serpentes: Typhlopidae). Hamadryad 34: 34–61.
  3. Zavala E, Arteaga A (2025) First report of the invasive Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803), Flowerpot Blindsnake (Serpentes, Typhlopidae), in Ecuador. Check List 21: 420–426. DOI: 10.15560/21.2.420
  4. Kaiser H, Lopes Carvalho V, Ceballos J, Freed P, Heacox S, Lester B, Richards SJ, Trainor CR, Sanchez C, O’Shea M (2011) The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report. ZooKeys 109: 19–86. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.109.1439
  5. Wallach V (2020) How to easily identify the flowerpot blindsnake, Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803), with proposal of a new genus (Serpentes: Typhlopidae). Podarcis 11: 4–12.
  6. Meshaka WE (2011) A runway train in the making: the exotic amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians of Florida. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 6: 1–101.
  7. Broadley DG, Wallach V (2009) A review of the eastern and southern African blind-snakes (Serpentes: Typhlopidae), excluding Letheobia Cope, with the description of two new genera and a new species. Zootaxa 2255: 1–100. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2255.1.1
  8. Deshmukh RV, Deshmukh SA, Badhekar SA, Naitame RY (2020) Snakes of Bhandara District, Maharashtra, Central India with notes on natural history. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 27: 10–17.
  9. McCoy (2021) A field guide to the reptiles of the Solomon Islands. Michael McCoy, Kuranda, 140 pp.
  10. Mizuno T, Kojima Y (2015) A blindsnake that decapitates its termite prey. Journal of Zoology 297: 220–224. DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12268
  11. Jani M (2019) Indotyphlops braminus (Brahminy Blind Snake): diet. Herpetological Review 50: 159.
  12. Somma LA (2012) Rhamphotyphlops braminus (Brahminy Blindsnake): predation. Herpetological Review 43: 497.
  13. Lamb AD, Lippi CA, Watkins-Colwell GJ, Jones A, Warren D, Iglesias TL, Brandley M, Neagle C, Dornburg A (2020) What makes Hemidactylus invasions successful? A case study on the island of Curaçao. bioRxiv preprint. DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.17.047209
  14. Pizzatto L, Somaweera R, Kelehear C, Brown GP (2012) Rhinella marina (Cane Toad): diet. Herpetological Review 43: 469–471.
  15. Zlotkin S, Leavell BC, Peniston JH (2017) Indotyphlops braminus (Brahminy Blind Snake) : predation. Herpetological Review 48: 675.
  16. Godley JS, Gonzalez SM, Gonzalez MC (2009) Stilosoma extenuatum (Short-tailed Snake): diet and predation. Herpetological Review 39: 473–474.
  17. Martínez-Coronel M, Navarrete-Jiménez A (2018) Indotyphlops braminus (Brahminy Blindsnake): spider predation. Herpetological Review 49: 754.
  18. Akimoto H (2023) Indotyphlops braminus (Brahminy Blind Snake): predation. Herpetological Review 54: 486.
  19. Ota H, Hikida T, Matsui M, Mori A, Wynn A (1991) Morphological variation, karyotype and reproduction of the parthenogenetic blind snake, Rhamphotyphlops braminus, from the insular region of East Asia and Saipan. Amphibia-Reptilia 12: 181–193.
  20. McDowell SB Jr (1974) A catalogue of the snakes of New Guinea and the Solomons, with special reference to those in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Part I. Scolecophidia. Journal of Herpetology 8: 1–57. DOI: 10.2307/1563076
  21. Wynn A, Ota H, McDowell S (1987) Apparent triploidy in the unisexual Brahminy blind snake, Ramphotyphlops braminus. American Museum Novitates 2868: 1–7.
  22. Shea G, Stuart BL, Chan-Ard T, Wogan G, Srinivasulu C, Srinivasulu B, Vijayakumar SP, Ramesh M, Ganesan SR, Madala M, Sreekar R, Shankar G, Allison A, Hamilton A, Tallowin O, Beraduccii J, Howell K, Msuya CA, Ngalason W, Parker F, O’Shea M, Iskandar D (2021) Indotyphlops braminus. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T172704A1370555.en
  23. Wallach V (2021) The geographic distribution, habitat elevation, and chronological dispersal of Virgotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803) around the world (Squamata: Typhlopidae). Podarcis 12: 24–56.
  24. Crombie R, Pregill G (1999) A checklist of the herpetofauna of the Palau Islands (Republic of Belau), Oceania. Herpetological Monographs 13: 29–80.
  25. Hedges SB, Marion AB, Lipp KM, Marin J, Vidal N (2014) A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata). Caribbean Herpetology 49: 1–61. DOI: 10.31611/ch.49

Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Indotyphlops braminus in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.

CountryProvinceLocalitySource
EcuadorGuayasCapeiraZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasCiudadela BellavistaZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasESPOLZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasGuayacanesZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasGuayaquil, BellavistaZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasParque Clemente YeroviZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasParque de la VirgenZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasParque Lineal Kennedy NorteZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasSamanes IIIZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasUnidad Educativa Nuevo MundoZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasUrbanización BouganvilleZavala & Arteaga 2025
EcuadorGuayasVía a la Costa, km 24Zavala & Arteaga 2025