Ramphotyphlops+braminus

= =  Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin 1803)   Brahminy Blind Snake / Flower Pot Snake

Overview
//Indotyphlops braminus//, belonging to the infraorder Scolecophidians, are the most ancient group of living snakes often neglected in all aspects of vertebrate studies (1). They bear similar resemblance to that of an Earthworm due to its worm-like appearance and size, except for their lack of segmentation which is a key feature of the annelids. Of only about the size of a spaghetti strand, they are considered to be one of the world's smallest snake whose length averages from 6 to 16 cm (2). //I////. braminus// is commonly known as 'Brahminy Blind Snake' as they are almost entirely blind, possessing only rudimentary eye spots capable of only registering light intensity. This completely fossorial snake species, which thrives in the warm and damp soils of the tropics and subtropics, are believed to have originated from India and can be commonly found throughout Southern and Southeastern Asia (1). However, due to the expansion of worldwide trade in greenhouse materials like living plants and potting soils, the geographical distribution of //I////. braminus// have broaden to include Africa, Australia, Hawaii and even temperate regions of United States (1). Interestingly, //I////. braminus// is a taxa consisting of only female individuals which reproduce solely via parthenogenesis (3). This renders certain species concept inapplicable to this particular taxa.