All About Brahminy Blind Snakes, The Serpent That Looks Like Earthworms

The vast diversity of living things found in the earth’s varied ecosystems never fail to amaze us. There are species in the world that will surprise you because of their distinctive shapes, qualities or traits. Among them is a Blind Snake, which looks similar to an earthworm. Yes! You read that right. Indotyphlops braminus, also known as the Brahminy Blind Snake whose colour, appearance and shape are similar to an earthworm and people often mistake between the two. Are they harmful? Do we need to worry? Let’s find out. Swapnil Khatal, a Wildlife expert, told Local18 that there are two species of Blind snake found in India, which include the worm snake and the beaked worm snake. While the length of the worm snake is only up to 10 centimetres, the beaked worm snake is slightly longer.

Many people mistake this snake for an earthworm as its movement and appearance are exactly like that of an earthworm. Fortunately, these serpents are non-venomous and cannot bite due to their very small mouth. If you ever see a blind snake, you know there’s no need to panic.

Blind snakes, like any other earthworm, reside in the soil, according to Swapnil. If you look closely, you can see tiny stripes on its body that distinguish it from earthworms.

What makes these serpents different from other snake species is their quality to crawl both in the forward and backward direction, similar to worms. It has a pointed tail and two little, dot-like shapes near its head. These Blind snakes eat Larvae, eggs and ants to survive.

According to Abhishek, a Wildlife Expert at the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in the West Champaran district of Bihar, there are around 2,700 species of snakes found in the world and out of them, only 10 percent that is, 270-300 serpents are poisonous whose bite can lead to death. In India, there are only around 367 species found here, out of which only 10 percent are poisonous. The Inland Taipan, Coastal Taipan, Banded Krait and King Cobra are among the most poisonous snakes found in the world.

Have you ever seen this Blind Snake?