Beaked Worm Snake

Grypotyphlops acutus

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Identification

Scales smooth. Head same width as body; snout pointed with large, hooked beak- like scale. Nostrils below the beak. Tiny scale-covered eye visible as a black dot. Short tail ends in a spine. Glossy brown above, distincty paler below.

Length: Maximum 24in

Scalation

Scakes in 28-34 rows around the body; 450-500 transverse row of scales. Rostral very large, beak-like; projects strongly. Total lenth of snake 40-60 time diameter of body. Belly scales notbroader than adjacent body scales. Only upper jaw has teeth.

Habitat and Reproduction

A strong burrower that spends most of its life underground. Inhabits the moist soft soils of dense forest. Hooked snout and tail is used to lever the body backwards or forwards. Eats worm, soft-bodied insects and their larvae. Ovoviviparous, 3 to 5 young are being born at a time. The breeding season in the jun-july.

Distribution

Endemic to India.

Found south india and south Rajasthan. Range extends west to Baroda and east to Kolkata. It is very common in Chhattisgarh.

Threats:

 

Loss of habitat and concretion of land leave very less space for these species to thrive. 

Important Tags

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Beaked Worm SnakeTyphlopidae Grypotyphlops acutus