Rediscover blind snakes in Madagascar

A representative of the blind snake was found on Madagascar after a missing century. The animal, which looks like a long pink worm, is the only known animal since the other two were discovered in 1905.

The snake, named Xenotyphlops mocquardi , was captured in 2005 during a scientific expedition in northern Madagascar. The specimen is about 24 cm long and is as big as a pencil. There are about 15 blind snakes on this island, so its discovery is not very noticeable, until people compare to dead specimens in the old collection.

Blind snakes, as the name suggests, have very poor eyesight. They hunt mainly because of sniffing, living in the ground or beneath layers of soil and rock. Blind snakes and a group of relatives with them - snakes deep - avoid light whenever possible. If caught on the ground, they will find ways to crawl deep.

These two snake families are the only snakes that only eat insects, such as ants and termites. In fact, they all have eyes, but have been dissipated in evolution.

Blind snake (Photo: abdn.ac.uk)

T. An