found a tiny ...snake?
Ok I found what looks to be a baby snake or a really tiny snake in my back yard, in the grass, at night. AT first I thought it was a salamander; but as I looked closer it was way to long and thin. So then I thought worm but it didn't move like any worm I've seen. So i gently picked it up put it in a glass jar with a paper towel rubberbanded over the opening(poked plenty of air holes). I just need to know if its harmless and can just go release it or if it was a pet and and going to get bigger. Snakes are just not a natural inhabitant in my area as far as I know and I had a hard time convincing myself it was a snake so in addition to the picture here is what I noticed ......
1)it is not slimy or wet or slippery. 2)it has no feet. 3) It has a forked toungue it flicked out a couple times 4)It also has nostriles and barely visible eyes. 5)black on top gray underside 6) aprox.5in long and 1/8" wide.
Comments (8)
wayne_mo
10 years agoUser
10 years agoThat is actually not a Southwestern Blindsnake (Leptotyphlops humilis), it is a Brahminy Blindsnake (Rhamphotyphlops braminus).
The difference is that our native species of Blindsnakes (in the genus Leptotyphlops) do not occur in CA. Your Brahminy Blindsnake is a native of Southeast Asia that has been brought to the US and spread through the transfer of potted plants from one area of the country to another. This is why it is sometimes called the "Flowerpot" Snake.
They are known from a number of localities around Los Angeles and will undoubtedly become more common as time goes on. They are already well established in places like Hawaii and Florida.
They are completely harmless, other than being an introduced species.
The snake in the photo I have attached is one of the native species. They are slightly larger and ligher in color. Our native blindsnakes are lighter pinkish in color, as opposed to the dark purple pink of this introduced species.
This post was edited by FHFchrish on Sat, Jun 1, 13 at 13:16
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