blind snake

In this large family of snakes there are 24 species in Western Australia in the one genus.

They have a blunt head, small tail with a spur and small eyes which are covered by a transparent scale. The tip of the snout can be hooked, angular or rounded depending on the species. The mouth is small and under the tip of the snout.

They dig or burrow down into the ground and so called a Burrowing snake.

The Southern Blind snakes are common throughout the Perth region and are found on Rottnest Island.

The Southern Blind snake is approx 45cm long in total length.

They are difficult to identify between the different species without a microscope.

This Blind/Worm snake was photographed at Mt Dale in Perth in late November in light showers. It could be the Southern Blind snake Ramphotyphlops australis

They shelter in ant or termite nests, under loose soil, rocks, logs and leaf litter.

They do have the typical snake forked tongue that is flicked in and out to collect and taste the different scent molecules in the air or the trail left by ants on the ground. This is why the snakes and monitors flick their tongues out more rapidly when we are around them. They are checking us out.

Photograph by Mary Heslen

The scales are equal in size and over lapping. The belly scales are not larger like in other snakes.

They have a glossy appearance.

What does it eat?

Blind/ Worm snakes feed solely on termites and the eggs, larvae and pupae of ants. There mouth is lined with mucous-producing glands. They ward off attacks by the ants by being too smooth and their scales are too tough for the ants to bite. The smaller Blind snakes have to feed on smaller ants though as a Bull Ant can bite or sting them.

The Bandy Bandy snake feeds entirely on Blind snakes in the Eastern States. The Bandy Bandy snake isn't in WA but there are other banded snakes here.

Although fairly common Blind snakes aren't seen very often due to their burrowing. They can be seen in warmer weather during rain at night as we saw these two blind snakes.

So do you think they can see or not?

Yes they can see but in a limited capacity. Compared to other snakes they would have the worst vision maybe only seeing light and dark. Their eyes are small. The scale over their eyes would prevent the ants from biting their eyes as they go head first into an ants nest. Blind snakes rely a lot more on their ability to pick up a scent than on their sight.

Go to our Creepy Crawlies pages and then to our Ants page to see how large some of the ants are here in Western Australia.

Photographed at Mt Dale Perth, WA in November

The Blind snake can omit an unpleasant odour/paste from its anal glands to deter predators. Another text said that the Australian Blind snakes don't do this.

The males tails are longer than the females.

The tail of the Blind snake photographed at Mt Dale on November <<<<<<<<25

The Blind snakes tail. Photographed at Tutanning Nature Reserve in the wheatbelt November 15

This Blind/Worm snake was seen at Tutanning Nature Reserve in the wheatbelt on November 15. It had not yet rained but it was about to.

It may be the Ramphotyphlops waitii species but this is just a guess. This species is endemic to Western Australia.

This Blind snake immediately went down this ant hole on the right of the photograph so we couldn't see its head. The ants didn't seem concerned that this snake was squeezing down their nest.