Very interesting find today, a Brahminy Blind Snake!

While moving a rock this morning, I uncovered a Brahminy Blind Snake, AKA also called a Worm Snake or Flower Pot Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus). They are relatively common despite the fact that they are non-native and were first found and documented in 1983 in South Florida. They are now found throughout Florida, and it is thought they came to the U.S. from Asia or Africa in potting soil. They do have residual eye spots on their head, but seem only to discriminate between light and dark. You can pinpoint the head from the tail because the snout is rounded, while the tail is pointed (it's still hard to tell!). They are very small (2-6inches long), live in the soil, under rocks and leaf litter- and on first glance- look quite slimy. Nope, they are very slick, shiny and smooth- not worm like at all except in size and where you may find them. Another interesting fact is they are all female, and reproduce parthenogenetically (unisexual, they are genetically identical). At this point, it is unknown whether they bear live young or lay eggs. Frequently when I uncover them, there are two or more nestled together. I am usually against non-native species, but the Brahminy Blind Snake hasn't displaced any native species, and since they eat ant and termite larvae, eggs, and pupae, I like them. If you can get over your initial repulsion to things that seem slimy, and worm like- you should at least leave them alone to eat those nasty termite eggs. Their mouth is so small, there is absolutely no chance they can bite. This little girl was quite unhappy at being caught, and thrashed and twined around my fingers until I let her go. Because of their size, and the tiny slick scales (you can see the scales in the close up images, as well as the lighter colored belly)- they are excellent and very fast burrowers. All of the ones I've caught appear at first to be black, but they are a lovely deep plumy brown. I put her in a plastic container for some of the photos, next time I will try to document them in situ. The second image is a close up of the head.