At first glance, many might mistake them for earthworms until the characteristic forked tongue of a snake flicks out, startling onlookers. These creatures are indeed a type of snake, possessing all the structural features of snakes: a spine, scales, and a head that lifts as they slither.
They are known as blind snakes and can be found in various locations throughout Vietnam, from the North to the South, even in large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. True to their name, blind snakes bear a striking resemblance to the common earthworm, with round heads and shiny brown coloration. They typically inhabit underground, in debris, or among decaying wood.
It takes a keen eye to distinguish them from worms by observing the following characteristics: their bodies are covered in scales and are not segmented, they possess tiny eyes on their heads, they can open their mouths, and notably, they have a forked tongue typical of snakes. While earthworms feed on plant debris, the primary diet of blind snakes consists of ant and termite eggs.
Due to their underground lifestyle, the eyes of blind snakes have degenerated, reduced to mere dots with almost no visual function (which is why they are often referred to as blind snakes). They exhibit a dark brown color, similar to earthworms but darker.
Another peculiar feature of blind snakes is their ability to reproduce without the presence of males. Earthworms lay around eight eggs at a time, and in this form of asexual reproduction, all hatchlings are female.
This snake species is found across Vietnam, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and Singapore. It has also been noted in Africa, the Middle East, the remaining regions of tropical Asia, some temperate areas of Asia, Pacific islands, and the Americas (Mexico, the United States), and Australia.
The population of this snake species is relatively low, likely due to their unique survival traits and unisexual reproduction rather than human activities.
Here are some compiled images of the intriguing blind snake species:
Blind snakes have a very similar appearance to common earthworms.
The only difference being they have scales…
And the unmistakable tongue of a snake.
Close-up of the head of a blind snake.
Unlike the round head of an earthworm, the tail of a blind snake is quite pointed.
Compared to ordinary snakes, it is indeed a ‘miniature’ snake.
An adult blind snake measures approximately 20 cm long, smaller than a large earthworm.
This is a non-venomous snake.
Even if they were venomous, they would be harmless, as their mouths are too small and weak to inflict damage on human skin.
Despite being widely distributed in Vietnam, blind snakes remain quite rare.
