Hey guys, thought I would put this out there for anyone with extensive knowledge of blind snakes. We found this guy yesterday on Hong Kong Island in some leaf litter. Hong Kong is only known to have two species of blind snakes: Rhamphotyphlops braminus and Rhamphotyphlops albiceps (latin = "white head").
This guy (in my opinion) is much thicker than the R. braminus we usually see, as well as having a tapered body (head seems more narrow and gets thicker as you move posteriorly). I intend to have some comparison shots up in the next day or two. The other species, R. albiceps, as the name implies has a black body with a white head.
Either this is an albino R. braminus (but the size and body shape don't agree), or it is something else. I cannot see an eye under the scales either (I don't remember if you are supposed to be able to see an eye in R. braminus or not). Just hoping to get some thoughts. Thanks
unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
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- Kevin Messenger
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Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
It looks like a blindsnake. The scalation is wrong for a Dibamid.
Why not an amelanistic Rhamphotyphlops albiceps?
Why not an amelanistic Rhamphotyphlops albiceps?
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Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
It looks kind of like this R. braminus that this guy found in FL. Check out the link. Other than that guess, I really have no clue!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60046736@N00/113740901/
It's not my picture or site, but the blue snake looks similar.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60046736@N00/113740901/
It's not my picture or site, but the blue snake looks similar.
Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
Anyone ever seen one in the blue? Perhaps it is about to shed? Just throwing it out there, I have only seen a few examples of the native desert species, but after seeing the side by side comparison shot from flikr the theory entered my mind. Could very well be a mutation too, just figure for such a secretive snake I can't imagine many people have seen the shedding process.
Dan
Dan
Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
The overall form seems quite distinctive. Any one got pics of albiceps for comparision?
- Ross Padilla
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Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
I've found several braminus and one was shaped like that. I thought it might be gravid. I could see its eyes when I got a close up shot of its head with a flash. This one looks like the one posted here a while back and might be on that albino thread. If its some type of albino, possibly that is why you can't see the eyes. Any chance it could be a gravid albino braminus? That is just a guess. That is a cool find regardless.
- Kevin Messenger
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Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
Thanks for all the ideas and input. When we get back from our snake hunt tonight (last night we saw 22 snakes - 11 species), I will probably try to get some comparison shots. I hadn't thought of the gravid/ not gravid aspect. The individual is just so much larger than the typical adult R. braminus we have been seeing, in addition to different shape, in addition to different color - so these 3 aspects combined make me feel as if it isn't R. braminus. But maybe it is a gigantic, albino, gravid female R. braminus. Has to happen some time. . .
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Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
This is definitely a pre-shed braminus (all blindsnakes turn milky white before they molt). And the nasal suture contacting the rostral dorsally is a key character for braminus.
- Kevin Messenger
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Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
wow. Strange for this to pop up after so much time. But yeah, we kept it until it shed, and it was just your standard Brahminy blind snake. Unfortunately. Thanks anyway though!
- Paul Freed
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Re: unknown blind snake from Hong Kong Island
dicephalics is correct, this is a pre-shed braminus, I observed a blind snake in India just like this and thought I had found an undescribed species.
-Paul
-Paul