My Guide to Blindsnakes/Threadsnakes in The Bahamas

Blindsnakes are a group of fossorial worm-like snakes. This guide should help with identification regarding species in the Bahamas. There are four Typhlopidae species and one Leptotyphlopidae species found in the Bahamas. Most are endemic to only certain islands in the Caribbean. The species are listed here:

• Cubatyphlops biminiensis, the Bahaman slender blindsnake.
• Cubatyphlops paradoxus, the Inagua blindsnake.
• Epictia columbi, the San Salvador blindsnake.
• Indotyphlops braminus, the Brahminy blindsnake.
• Typhlops lumbricalis, the Earthworm blindsnake.

For more info regarding Bahamian herps, see: http://www.caribherp.org/index.php?p=i&val=2

Species Identification:

Cubatyphlops biminiensis
Range: Andros, New Providence, Bimini Island, Cay Sal, and Ragged Island.
Distinguishing Features: Preocular contacts supralabials 2 and 3 and one postocular is present (versus preoculars only contacting supralabial 3 and two postoculars present on Typhlops).
Similar Species: Typhlops lumbricalis

Cubatyphlops paradoxus
Range: Great Inagua Island.
Distinguishing Features: Similar morphologically to Cubatyphlops biminiensis.
Similar Species: None, only species on Great Inagua.

Epictia columbi
Range: San Salvador Island.
Distinguishing Features: 2 supralabials, large supraoculars, 4 infralabials, apical spine a laterally compressed cone.
Similar Species: None, only species on San Salvador.

Indotyphlops braminus
Range: Recorded in New Providence and Abaco Island, but likely introduced to other islands.
Distinguishing Features: Small, jet black snake. Dissimilar to native blindsnakes. Check the Reptile Database for comprehensive species identification.
Similar Species: Could be confused with Cubatyphlops or Typhlops.

Typhlops lumbricalis
Range: Grand Bahama, Abaco Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Andros, New Providence, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Exuma Islands, Long Island, and Ragged Island.
Distinguishing Features: 2 postoculars present and preocular only contacts supralabial 3 (instead of only one postocular and with preoculars contacting supralabials 2 and 3 as in Cubatyphlops).
Similar Species: Cubatyphlops biminiensis

Hope you guys found this useful! If you have any questions/observations you're not sure of, please tag me or leave a comment!

Posted on August 28, 2023 03:49 PM by rinaturalist