Eurasian Blind Snake

Xerotyphlops vermicularis is a small, earthworm-like snake that has a maximum length of 35 cm. The head, body, and tail generally have no differentiation between them and look like one fluid segment. The coloration tends to be light brown, yellowish, or flesh colored. Juveniles do not usually have different coloring than the adults, but some have been known to look pinkish when they are smaller. It is difficult to tell male and female European blind snakes apart; however, males will generally have longer tails than the females.

Despite its common name, the range of the European blind snake ranges from the Balkan Peninsula, the Aegean Islands, and Cyprus to Afghanistan. The northernmost region it inhabits is just north of the Gulf of Burgas in Bulgaria. Like other members of the genus, Xerotyphlops vermicularis are burrowers. A survey of nesting boxes in Turkey discovered that the Eurasian scops owls tend to bring live Xerotyphlops vermicularis to the nests soon after hatching of the brood. The snakes then feed on insects inside the nest including ectoparasites, commensals and kleptoparasites. This is in turn associated with greater survival of the nestlings.