Small solid black snakes found in both bathrooms and kitchen
Posted by Steve Roberti on August 1, 2006
Q: My wife an I have found several tiny solid black snakes in our kitchen and both bathrooms of our house. They are extremely tiny, and almost can't even see the head itself, at first I thought it was some kind of worm until it tried to slither away, I put it in a plastic back and held it up to the light to get a closer look and then I could see it's forked tongue, almost transparent, but I still can't see any detail of the head, almost like it hasn't shed it's first skin. These snake are round and slender very shiny, and are about 5 or six centimeters in length. I have looked everywhere on the internet, and haven't found anything that looks like this. Thanks for the help.
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Florida
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: I think you found a Brahminy Blind Snake, one of the smallest snakes in the world. Native to southeastern Asia, Brahminy Blind Snakes have been widely introduced across Florida. It is thought they have been introduced via the soil of imported plants. There are only females — these animals reproduce by parthenogenesis: cell division occurs without sperm, and the offspring are effectively "clones" of the mother. They eat termite and ant eggs, larvae and pupae. These snakes are roughly two inches (5cm) at hatching.
Here are several links:
Solon Morse ( August 2, 2006)