Indotyphlops braminus
(Daudin, 1803)
IN-doh-TY-flops — BRAY-min-us
SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
Native to southeastern Asia. It was introduced to 13 states and is established in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawai'i, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Texas, and Virginia (Kraus 2009, Alien Reptiles and Amphibians: A Scientific Compendium and Analysis. SpringerVerlag, Heidelberg, Germany). It is the most widely distributed snake in the world due to it being parthenogenic (all females) as well as transported easily in potted plants (hence the other common English name, Flower Pot Snake).
(Krysko, Kenneth and Travis W. Taggart. 2025. Established Exotic Species. Pages 64-87 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)
Errata/Changes: Page 86: The (Kraus, 2009) reference should be "Kraus, 2009, Alien Reptiles and Amphibians: A Scientific Compendium and Analysis. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands". — (06/11/2025)
Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2025.03.30.20.17.10)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 1.7 MB
Taxonomic Etymology:
A small, parthenogenetic blindsnake widely introduced around the world.
Indotyphlops — From Indo-, referring to India or the Indian subcontinent, and Typhlops (from Greek typhlos, “blind,” and ops, “eye”). Thus, “Indian blindsnake.”
braminus — From Latin Braminus, “of the Brahmins” (the Hindu priestly caste). Refers to the species’ origin in India and its early collection or association with regions inhabited by Brahmins.
First instance(s) of published English names:
Bramin Typhlops (Typhlops braminus: Gray, John E. 1830. A synopsis of the species of the class reptilia. Pages 1-110 in The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization by the Baron Cuvier, member of teh Institute of France, with Additional Descriptions of all the Species Hitherto Named, and of many not before noticed. Ninth Volume. Whittaker, Treacher, and Company, London, England. pp.);
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
The Reptile Database
GenBank
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
Selected References:
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1803
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Daudin, Francois M. Histoire Naturelle Generale et Particuliere des Reptiles. Vol. 6. F. Dufart, Paris. 447pp.
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2009
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Kraus, Fred. Alien Reptiles and Amphibians: A Scientific Compendium and Analysis. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 563pp.
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