Neotropical Blind Snake, Amerotyphlops cf brongersmianus - reptilenesia

 

Neotropical Blind Snake, Amerotyphlops cf brongersmianus Identification

Size. 325 mm TL, tail about 2.1% SVL.
Identification. Cigar-shaped body and a uniform brown colour distinguish it from A. trinitatis, which has a striped pattern with yellow blotches at each end. Three light spots on the head, a large central spot and a smaller one on each side; eleven dorsal scale rows with yellow-brown or red-brown pigment, snout may be streaked with dark brown that forms fan-shaped spots; nine ventral scale rows are yellow or pink. 

 

Rostral visible from above; nasals large and semi-divided; four upper labials; eyes distinct but under ocular shields; scales around body number 20, reduce to 19 or 18 posteriorly; dorsal scales from rostral to tail-spine range from 195 to 287 (average 233.1). Trinidad population and some mainland populations to south and east are characterized by low numbers of dorsals; subcaudals 8-14 (average 10.6); tail wider than long, ending in a conical spine.

Similar species. The two species of Epictia have 14 rows of scales around the body, and the Helminthophis has 18 rows of scales around the body; it can be readily distinguished from Amerotyphlops trinitatis by its uniform brown dorsal pattern; A trinitatus is striped.
Distribution. On Trinidad it is known only from Tucker Valley and Aripo Savanna. Elsewhere, it may be present on the Guiana Shield. It is likely this widespread species is composed of multiple cryptic taxa.

Habitat of Neotropical Blind Snake, Amerotyphlops cf brongersmianus

 

Rainforest leaf litter and soil.

Biology. Probably nocturnal, very secretive. Diet: Probably includes ants and termites.  Some specimens of Amphisbaena gracilis and A. brongersmianus were found among the leaves of a Moriche palm (Mauritia flexuosa) in a flooded morichal in the Orinoco Delta. These specimens tried to hide under dry leaves and, if this was not possible, they jumped directly into the water.