Beaked blind snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beaked blind snake |
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Grypotyphlops
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acutus
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The Beaked blind snake, also known as the beaked worm snake, is a small, harmless snake. It is a type of blind snake. This snake lives only in India. It is the only species in its group, called Grypotyphlops. No different types of this snake are known.
What is a Beaked Blind Snake?
These snakes are called "blind snakes" because their eyes are very tiny. Often, their eyes are covered by scales. This makes them look almost blind. They are also called "worm snakes" because they are small and thin, like worms. They spend most of their lives underground. This helps them stay safe and find their food. They mostly eat ants and termites.
Where Do Beaked Blind Snakes Live?
The beaked blind snake lives in India. You can find them in the southern part of India. This area is south of the Ganges River and Rajputana basins. Scientists first described this snake in 1844. However, they did not know exactly where the first snake they studied came from.
How Are They Related to Other Snakes?
Scientists think the Grypotyphlops group of snakes is related to other blind snakes. These relatives are found in Africa. They include groups like Afrotyphlops, Letheobia, and Rhinotyphlops. It is believed that the beaked blind snake's ancestors traveled from Africa to India. This happened a very long time ago, during a period called the Paleogene.
This is different from other blind snakes in India. Some Indian blind snakes came from mainland Asia. Others are descendants of ancient snakes from Insular India. This shows how different groups of snakes arrived in India over millions of years.
