Proximus blind snake

The Proximus blind snake or the woodland blind snake (Anilios proximus) is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family that is native to eastern Australia.[2][3][4]

Proximus blind snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Typhlopidae
Genus: Anilios
Species:
A. proximus
Binomial name
Anilios proximus
(Waite, 1893)
Synonyms
  • Typhlops proximus
  • Ramphotyphlops proximus
  • Typhlina proxima
  • Austrotyphlops proximus

Description

It has an average length of 50cm, but can reach 75cm. It is dark brown and glossy in appearance with very small eyes, bluntly trilobed snout, 20 mid body scales and no noticeable head.[5] They can often be mistaken for earthworms.[6]

Distribution

It is found in eastern Queensland, New South Wales, northern Victoria and eastern South Australia. Predominately nocturnal and non-venomous, it is a burrowing snake which spends most of its life beneath leaf litter or underground. It is rarely seen in daytime, but would make incidental appearances after heavy rainfall or warm moist nights using rocks and debris for shelter.[5]

Feeding

It mostly feeds on termites, larvae and pupae of ants, and small insects.[5]

References
  1. Shea, G., McDonald, P. & Fenner, A. 2018. Anilios proximus (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T178361A129367681. Downloaded on 08 August 2018.
  2. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. "Ramphotyphlops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  4. Anilios proximus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 21 July 2018.
  5. Woodland Blind Snake by State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams
  6. Blind snake found in Castle Hill backyard pool. The Daily Telegraph
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