A gardening session by a colleague unearthed this incredible Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus). This is one of the smallest snakes in the world, with a total length averaging about 13cm only. It is easily mistaken for an earthworm but trained naturalists will be able to tell it doesn’t have a segmented body. Instead the body is smooth, cylindrical and on closer examination, the presence of scales. And it is much more active than an earthworm is.Apparently it is not blind but has tiny eyes. Eyesight is not of utmost importance since this snake spends its time burrowing in the dim world of root masses and soil, hunting small insects especially ants and termites. I tried to see the eyes under a microscope. It’s a thrill to see two black minute eyes staring back.
Another amazing aspect is this species is parthenogenetic, meaning females reproducing females asexually without fertilisation of eggs by males. In fact the Brahminy Blind Snake is an all female species. This is a common reproductive strategy in insects but not so in vertebrates. Some fishes, amphibians and of course snakes are known to be parthenogenetic.
This snake is said to originate from Sri Lanka or southern India, but is now very common in most regions including Singapore thanks to our horticultural practices. Though common and widespread, its ecology hides it away from humans most of the time making this wonderfully intriguing creature a hardly seen rarity…..…unless we start digging through all garden plots.
So if you are an avid gardener, do be gentle when encountering this snake. It is harmless, can be handled safely and is deserving of a home in our gardens. Pictures taken at: National Biodiversity Centre, December 2009.
References:
Baker, N. & K. K. P. Lim, 2008. Wild Animals of Singapore. A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes, Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd, Singapore.
Wallach, V., 2008, ‘Range extensions and new island records for Ramphotyphlops braminus (Serpentes: Typhlopidae)’, Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society
This aspect of larvae ecology is rather well known. There are several studies showing larvae inhabiting small streams or seepages in forest can have a diminished dependence on water. Some species in Japan live among wet rock and mosses beside streams, a species in Himalaya hang around wet ferns near waterfalls and one species from New Caledonia clings onto the underside of moist leaves away from any water body.
After capturing, the larva will occasionally move completely out of water to consume the prey. I notice the bigger the shrimp, the more likely it’ll move above water for consumption. And this becomes more frequent as the larva grows.
Those with a phobia for things creepy and crawly will find this larva utterly hideous. It is now almost entirely black, having adapted its colour to the surroundings; it currently measures about 6cm in length; and has a dragon-like frontal appearance. It might look monstrous but once emerged into adult, it will become the biggest dragonfly in the world in terms of wingspan and weight.
Also known as Red-necked Bronzeback, this species has always been confused with Elegant Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis formosus). It was only in 2007 that scientists sorted out the taxonomy and designated it as a separate species. We now know Kopstein’s Bronzeback can be distinguished from other Bronzeback snakes by its bright orangey red colour at the back of its neck. The species is widespread locally, being also present in rural or suburban areas. Although widespread, it is considered rare by Baker & Lim (2008) and has a status of vulnerable in the Red Data Book. Its distribution is from Thailand down to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.
Tandem link between different dragonflies species is prevented because of the incompatibility between a male’s anal appendages and a different female’s head. It is like a lock and key system; the right key must fit the right lock. In this case, it is obvious the male N. fluctuans couldn’t grasp the female properly. After several tries, the male realised its mistake and released the female.
This critically endangered snail is mainly arboreal, inhabiting trees within primary forests preferring humid and damp conditions. Only one population survives in Singapore, and that's in SBG. We are not sure how big the population is but I believe it is hanging on by a thread considering the snail is found only within a small area in SBG. My knowledge on land snails are limited so I wonder why its found only at SBG and not in our forest reserves too. As mentioned in the Singapore Red Data Book, a study on population size is long overdue and a concerted effort must be made to introduce a second population in the nature reserves.
As I took the pictures, passerby walked past. Some gave me curious glances but most ignored me. Many Singaporeans don’t know we have several species of flora and fauna eking out a last stand here. Many of these species are unspectacular and inconspicuous unlike the charismatic Colugo or the iconic Oriental Pied Hornbills. The extinction of a snail would hardly make a dent in an urban dweller’s life. But it’ll be a loud silent scream from our natural heritage.
