Madagascar Blind Snake

A complete guide is an essential book for any visitor.
Madagascar blind snake. This bizarre snake is no larger than an earthworm and with its translucent pink skin it looks like one too. 1 2007 edition of the journal zootaxa. The snake which looks like a long skinny pink worm was only known from two other specimens both. The madagascar blind snake xenotyphlops grandidieri is a unique species representing a group of 15 subspecies in madagascar.
Blind snake superfamily typhlopoidea any of several nonvenomous snakes characterized by degenerate eyes that lie beneath opaque head scales blind snakes belong to the families anomalepidae leptotyphlopidae and typhlopidae in superfamily typhlopoidea. A rare blind snake has been rediscovered in madagascar a century after its last sighting. This portable guide offers a full survey of all madagascar s mammals both endemic and introduced including many newly identified species. However blind snakes are actually highly specialised predators hunting ants and termites beneath the soil and rapidly consuming them using a unique feeding mechanism.
All are fossorial adapted for burrowing. The scolecophidia commonly known as blind snakes or thread snakes are an infraorder of snakes. Another bizarre snake is the spear nosed snake langaha madagascariensis which mimics a twig with its unusual nasal appendage. Indotyphlops braminus commonly known as the brahminy blind snake and other names is a nonvenomous blind snake species found mostly in africa and asia but has been introduced in many other parts of the world.
They range in length from 10 to 100 cm 3 9 to 39 4 in. Aug 29 2013 pink blind snake discovered in madagascar story from 2007 a pink worm like snake has been rediscovered in madagascar more than 100 years after it was first found. With vivid color photographs line illustrations and maps mammals of madagascar. The madagascar blind snake has lost the use of its eyes and uses its bulldozer like head to burrow through sandy soil.
Since these three families are the only ones classified within infraorder scolecophidia blind snakes are sometimes called. The madagascar blind snake if blending in isn t their preferred survival choice disappearing completely might be. Five families and 39 genera are recognized. The snake which is blind and measures about 10 in long is described in the feb.
One interesting snake in madagascar that is greatly feared by local people is the harmless fandrefiala ithcyphus miniatus. The malagasy believe this arboreal snake drops tail first from trees while stiffening its body like a spear to stab people or zebu cattle passing below.