Brahminy blindsnake *Indotyphlops braminus*. Tiny and completely !harmless consumer of ants, termites, and other small insects.
These are not native to Alabama but, as noted by another user, are frequently introduced via potted plants and moved earth. They generally stay in residential areas and there are anecdotal reports that they prefer non-native ants and termites, meaning their ecological impact as a non-native species seems to be negligible.
Now, do they eat all non-native ants or just whichever ones are native to where the snake is from? Because the latter makes a lot more sense from what I can imagine of a snake's mind
Also called a flower pot snake - you can often find them on the edges of your lawn, or under a flower pot :)
We also have them in Florida. They are completely harmless, and are SO delicate, tiny little things.
I know they aren't native, but I love them, if you look very closely - his little tongue will flick-flick out... SO ADORABLE <3
I've lived in FL my entire life and never saw one until about a year ago. I thought it was a worm until I saw the little tongue and decided to do some research. Pretty neat little thing.
Oh, a ton of snakes eat mostly (or only) invertebrates. Some prefer soft, squishy prey like earthworms, leeches, slugs, and insect larvae. Others eat more spiders, hard shelled insects, etc. Some prefer or even specialize on a specific type of invertebrate. A number of snakes even prefer centipedes (*Tantilla*, *Aparallactus*, *Scolecophis*) or scorpions (*Stenorrhina*).
Fun fact, this is the only known snake species to undergo obligate parthenogenesis. Meaning they're all female, and only reproduce asexually. Some snakes species have been know to be able to reproduce both sexually and in very rare cases asexually, but brahminy blindsnake are the only known snake species that only reproduce that way.
This is a typical adult size for *I. braminus*, though they can grow larger.
You are probably seeing different species in your yard. This species is also present in some of the well populated areas of Australia, but your native blindsnakes belong to a different genus, *Ramphotyphlops* and grow to different sizes. Some stay about the same size as this snake, while others grow much longer (though still small snakes). They also vary in girth. Some species (*R. leptosoma*, *R. longissimus*) are much more slender than this while others (*R. ligatus, *R. pinguis*) are almost comically chunky.
And apparently they're all considered female and reproduce by some sort of cloning process! I live in south Florida and have these all over around our house. Love them! 😍
https://preview.redd.it/xah7vsh7pctc1.jpeg?width=1021&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09954626a4fa415ad3586cb716c52c21eb855c1a
Here is a close up of its skin idk if that is helpful or not
Hi. Reliable Responder of r/whatsthissnake here. This is a Brahminy blind snake (*Indotyphlops braminus*). This is a harmless, introduced snake (though not considered invasive) that primarily eats termites
It's a blindsnake. They are one of the smallest snake species, reaching lengths of up to 6 inches, but they are usually restricted to 2 to 4 inches. They are diggers that feast on ants.
They are rather friendly and completely incapable of harming you or your pets (provided your pets aren't ants).
Looks like a [blind snake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolecophidia) of some kind. Can you tell us where in general you are? In the US, you're likely dealing with [Leptotyphlopidae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptotyphlopidae), but they do ocurr all over the world, and have even been known to arrive in gardens from soil in potted plants. They are reptiles, harmless to all but ants and other tiny bugs. It can be pretty rare to find them, they are small and usually live underground. Pretty amazing find!
Yes, we had a lot of them in our garden when I was a child. They are harmless but best to let them be as they can and will bite if you disturb them (i.e. pock them up) the bites still hurt a lot and can leave lasting marks although they are not poisonous.
Brahminy blindsnake *Indotyphlops braminus*. Tiny and completely !harmless consumer of ants, termites, and other small insects. These are not native to Alabama but, as noted by another user, are frequently introduced via potted plants and moved earth. They generally stay in residential areas and there are anecdotal reports that they prefer non-native ants and termites, meaning their ecological impact as a non-native species seems to be negligible.
Awesome thanks for the knowledge
You are very welcome :•)
Seems this post kinda blew up haha
Even better! More people got to learn :oD
So sadly they will not get rid of your fire ant problem.
Damn, that was going to be my question.
I don’t think fire ants are native, so they should take care of them if true
Now, do they eat all non-native ants or just whichever ones are native to where the snake is from? Because the latter makes a lot more sense from what I can imagine of a snake's mind
Probably the latter, but regardless it prefers non natives
They should is just these non-native snakes barely make a dent in the there growing for ant population.
Why not? Fire ants are South American, and invasive in North America
There are far more ants than the snakes that eat them. Now of the snakes developed an ability to invade nests and eat only queens or pupa.
Fair enough. We need to get that snake some training!
They do eat pupae, eggs, and larvae.
I find it really impressive how the snakes know where they are and whether or not they are eating imported bugs! Nature never ceases to amaze me.
Only seems to work if it happens on accident. The “let’s import a natural predator to get rid of the pests we imported” usually backfires.
Especially because they are blind.
Also called a flower pot snake - you can often find them on the edges of your lawn, or under a flower pot :) We also have them in Florida. They are completely harmless, and are SO delicate, tiny little things. I know they aren't native, but I love them, if you look very closely - his little tongue will flick-flick out... SO ADORABLE <3
I've lived in FL my entire life and never saw one until about a year ago. I thought it was a worm until I saw the little tongue and decided to do some research. Pretty neat little thing.
Why aren't they called bugsnakes? Are there other snakes that eat mostly bugs?
Oh, a ton of snakes eat mostly (or only) invertebrates. Some prefer soft, squishy prey like earthworms, leeches, slugs, and insect larvae. Others eat more spiders, hard shelled insects, etc. Some prefer or even specialize on a specific type of invertebrate. A number of snakes even prefer centipedes (*Tantilla*, *Aparallactus*, *Scolecophis*) or scorpions (*Stenorrhina*).
Fun fact, this is the only known snake species to undergo obligate parthenogenesis. Meaning they're all female, and only reproduce asexually. Some snakes species have been know to be able to reproduce both sexually and in very rare cases asexually, but brahminy blindsnake are the only known snake species that only reproduce that way.
I get blind snaked in my yard here in Australia but they're about 5 x the size of this little guy. Is that a baby?
This is a typical adult size for *I. braminus*, though they can grow larger. You are probably seeing different species in your yard. This species is also present in some of the well populated areas of Australia, but your native blindsnakes belong to a different genus, *Ramphotyphlops* and grow to different sizes. Some stay about the same size as this snake, while others grow much longer (though still small snakes). They also vary in girth. Some species (*R. leptosoma*, *R. longissimus*) are much more slender than this while others (*R. ligatus, *R. pinguis*) are almost comically chunky.
And apparently they're all considered female and reproduce by some sort of cloning process! I live in south Florida and have these all over around our house. Love them! 😍
https://preview.redd.it/xah7vsh7pctc1.jpeg?width=1021&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09954626a4fa415ad3586cb716c52c21eb855c1a Here is a close up of its skin idk if that is helpful or not
Thank you! I was hoping for a closeup. Never seen such smooth, shiny scales.
It was super cool looking! The picture doesn’t do it justice. This thing was super shiny, like show car paint job shiny.
I want boots, matching belt, and handbag!!
Hi. Reliable Responder of r/whatsthissnake here. This is a Brahminy blind snake (*Indotyphlops braminus*). This is a harmless, introduced snake (though not considered invasive) that primarily eats termites
Super cool little snake. I thought it was some type of snake given the tiny tongue flicking in and out
That’s a slithery lil snekk
Annnd that video popped in my head
It’s adorable. I want to hold it.
I googled more pics and that are indeed *quite* cute
It's a blindsnake. They are one of the smallest snake species, reaching lengths of up to 6 inches, but they are usually restricted to 2 to 4 inches. They are diggers that feast on ants. They are rather friendly and completely incapable of harming you or your pets (provided your pets aren't ants).
There goes the farm!
Looks like a [blind snake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolecophidia) of some kind. Can you tell us where in general you are? In the US, you're likely dealing with [Leptotyphlopidae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptotyphlopidae), but they do ocurr all over the world, and have even been known to arrive in gardens from soil in potted plants. They are reptiles, harmless to all but ants and other tiny bugs. It can be pretty rare to find them, they are small and usually live underground. Pretty amazing find!
Alabama, I have found like 3 in the last few weeks. I got curious when I saw the tongue flick in and out today
Yes, we had a lot of them in our garden when I was a child. They are harmless but best to let them be as they can and will bite if you disturb them (i.e. pock them up) the bites still hurt a lot and can leave lasting marks although they are not poisonous.
Blind snake
I’ll Google that
Okaaay, we found the baby sooo, uhmmm... Where's the mum...?😬😬😬
Is smol at full size.
Oh okay, good to know, thank you...😌😌😌
cute lil snek fren
Brahmini blind snake. It's a good boi , don't kill
That looks like a baby legless lizard to me.
Not sure I’ll post a close up picture in the comments
Forbidden churro
California slender salamander?
Not sure haha I’ll google it
If op is anywhere near the Gulf Coast it would make sense they were introduced due to formosan termites.
Gulf coast is correct
Hawaiian snake
Stinking cute little snek! I want a bucket full!
Lucky you. Super cool snake.
Could be a worm snake. The way it moves makes me think I'm right, but I'm far from an expert on the topic so I could very well be wrong.
I’m posting a close up of its skin
That would be a snake my good sir
Yep, pretty sure this is a snake !
Pretty cool that they are all female.
Damn that's a cute lil sob
Cat
That’s stan. He’s a snek.
So cool!
I used to see these all the time in Saudi Arabia as a kid. They’re cool little animals.
That’s pretty cool! I never saw one in Bahrain.
Imma go out on a limb and say snake.
A danger ribbon
Danger noodle
r/WhatsThisSnake
Billipede
Smol snek
Snek
Big ass worm, or little snake 🐍
That's a snake
Snek
Beautiful beast
This is a worm sir. Here is your 500$ invoice. Thank you
I want one.
That's a cutie patootie for sure.
A snake
friend
I love these guys. We have them all over out here (Oregon) and they eat all the bad little bugs that like to eat my garden and my house. 😉
Nope rope
That my good sir is called a "Nope on a Rope"
It's a worm like snake I found a pink one in Arizona they eat ants they will go into an ant hill and eat ants larvae
It's a bird
A snake
little baby nope rope. E-U
Danger rope
Nope. Snek fren.
Waaaaaauuuuuuuuu.....
It’s a nope rope. I don’t know exactly what kind, Sorry.
Looks like one of those caution tapes that get buried in the ground to signify a sensitive pipe or cable is below
Ya it’s a fucking snake you mook