{{Short description|Species of snake}} {{Speciesbox | image = Typhlops vermicularis 9.jpg | image2 = Typhlops vermicularis.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 18 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Aghasyan, A. |author2=Avci, A. |author3=Tuniyev, B. |author4=Crnobrnja-Isailović, J. |author5=Lymberakis, P. |author6=Andrén, C. |author7=Cogălniceanu, D. |author8=Wilkinson, J. |author9=Ananjeva, N.B. |author10=Üzüm, N. |author11=Orlov, N.L. |author12=Podloucky, R. |author13=Tuniyev, S. |author14=Kaya, U. |author15=Ajtic, R. |author16=Tok, V. |author17=Ugurtas, I.H. |author18=Sevinç, M. |author19=Crochet, P.-A. |author20=Disi, A.M. |author21=Hraoui-Bloquet, S. |author22=Sadek, R. |author23=Werner, Y.L. |author24=Haxhiu, I.,, Baha El Din, S. |author25=Sterijovski, B. |author26=Böhme, W. |author27=Jelić, D. |author28=Borkin, L. |author29=Milto, K. |author30=Golynsky, E. |author31=Rustamov, A. |author32=Nuridjanov, D. |author33=Munkhbayar, K. |display-authors=5 |date=2017 |title=''Xerotyphlops vermicularis'' |volume=2017 |article-number=e.T157274A747386 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157274A747386.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Xerotyphlops | species = vermicularis | authority = [[Blasius Merrem|Merrem]], 1820 | synonyms = * ''Typhlops vermicularis'' * ''Typhlops flavescens'' * ''Argyrophis vermicularis'' * ''Typhlops syriacus'' * ''Typhlops persicus'' }}
'''''Xerotyphlops vermicularis''''', the '''European blind snake''', '''European worm snake''', '''Eurasian blind snake''', or '''Eurasian worm snake''', is a non-venomous species of [[snake]] in the genus ''[[Xerotyphlops]]''. The common name results from the fact that is the only blindsnake naturally found in Europe (the brahminy blindsnake, ''[[Ramphotyphlops braminus|Indotyphlops braminus]]'', has been introduced to [[Kew Gardens]] and in Italy and Spain).<ref name="Oshea1" /><ref name=RDB>{{NRDB species |genus=Xerotyphlops |species=vermicularis |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>
== Description == ''Xerotyphlops vermicularis'' is a small, [[earthworm]]-like snake that has a maximum length of 35 cm.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Amr |first1=Zuhair S. |last2=Disi |first2=Ahmad M. |date=2011-06-22 |title=Systematics, distribution and ecology of the snakes of Jordan |url=https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/31150/ |journal=Vertebrate Zoology |volume=61 |issue=2 |pages=179–266 |doi=10.3897/vz.61.e31150 |doi-access=free |issn=2625-8498}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Akman |first1=Bahadır |last2=Göçmen |first2=Bayram |date=2019-06-30 |title=Comparison of the Blind Snake Populations, Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) (Squamata: Typhlopidae) in Turkey and Cyprus: Morphology, Serology, Ecology, and Geometric Morphometrics |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/commagene/issue/46593/522170 |journal=Commagene Journal of Biology |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=6–18 |doi=10.31594/commagene.522170 |issn=2602-456X}}</ref> The head, body, and tail generally have no differentiation between them and look like one fluid segment.<ref name=":2" /> The coloration tends to be light brown, yellowish, or flesh colored.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Afsar |first1=Murat |last2=Çiçek |first2=Kerim |last3=Tayhan |first3=Yahya |last4=TOK |first4=Cemal Varol |title=New records of Eurasian Blind Snake, Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) from the Black Sea region of Turkey and its updated distribution |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317029466 |journal=Biharean Biologist |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=98–103 |via=ResearchGate}}</ref> Juveniles do not usually have different coloring than the adults, but some have been known to look pinkish when they are smaller.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> It is difficult to tell male and female European blind snakes apart; however, males will generally have longer tails than the females.<ref name=":32" />
== Reproduction ==
=== Courtship === ''X. vermicularis'' is generally found underneath rocks in groups when mating season is beginning.<ref name=":0" /> Their mating behavior typically follows a three-step process:<ref name=":32">{{Cite journal |last1=Dyugmedzhiev |first1=Angel |last2=Andonov |first2=Kostadin |last3=Krastev |first3=Georgi |date=2023 |title=Insights into the courtship and copulation of the worm snake <i>Xerotyphlops vermicularis</i> |url=https://www.thebhs.org/publications/the-herpetological-bulletin/issue-number-164-summer-2023/3802-08-insights-into-the-courtship-and-copulation-of-the-worm-snake-i-xerotyphlops-vermicularis-i |journal=The Herpetological Bulletin |language=en-gb |volume=164 |issue= |pages=30–32 |doi=10.33256/hb164.3032 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
* Tactile-chase: males first contact with female; involves chemosensory sampling as well as rubbing and biting the female.<ref name=":32" /> * Tactile-alignment: males initial attempt at copulation; tactile-chase behaviors can also occur at the same time; male attempts to align tail with the females.<ref name=":32" /> * Intromission Coitus: females open their [[cloaca]] and allow males to insert their [[Hemipenis|hemipenes]].<ref name=":32" />
Due to the size of these snakes, the beginning and end of each phase is difficult to differentiate.<ref name=":32" />
=== Copulation === This process takes place during the months of May and June and egg laying takes place between July and August. The male is wrapped around the mid-section of the female with their cloacae pressed closely together. They stay connected like that for roughly 1-2 minutes and afterwards the male disconnects himself from the female and moves away.<ref name=":32" />
== Ecology and distribution == Despite its common name, the range of the European blind snake ranges from the [[Balkan Peninsula]], the [[Aegean Islands]], and [[Cyprus]] to [[Afghanistan]].<ref name=Oshea1>{{cite book|last=O'Shea|first=Mark|title=Boas and Pythons of the World|year=2007|publisher=New Holland Publishers|isbn=978-1-84537-544-7|pages=68}}</ref> The northernmost region it inhabits is just north of the [[Gulf of Burgas]] in Bulgaria.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Koynova |first1=Teodora |last2=Marinova |first2=Pavlina |last3=Stanchev |first3=Nikola |last4=Natchev |first4=Nikolay |last5=Jablonski |first5=Daniel |date=2021-11-25 |title=New records of Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) indicate the northernmost locality of the species in the Balkan Peninsula |url=https://checklist.pensoft.net/article/71072/ |journal=Check List |language=en |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=1623–1626 |doi=10.15560/17.6.1623 |doi-access=free |issn=1809-127X}}</ref>
Like other members of the genus, ''Xerotyphlops vermicularis'' are [[burrow]]ers. A survey of nesting boxes in Turkey discovered that the [[Eurasian scops owl]]s 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 [[Kleptoparasitism|kleptoparasites]]. This is in turn associated with greater survival of the nestlings.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Göçer | first1=Elif | last2=Johnson | first2=David H | last3=Bilgin | first3=C Can | last4=Vrezec | first4=Al | title=Association of nesting ''Otus scops'' (Eurasian Scops Owl) with ''Xerotyphlops vermicularis'' (worm snake) in Türkiye | journal=Ornithology | volume=143 | issue=1 | date=2026-01-01 | issn=0004-8038 | doi=10.1093/ornithology/ukaf054 | pages=1–8 | url=https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/143/1/1/8279658 | access-date=2026-02-25| url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==See also== * [[List of typhlopid species and subspecies]] * [https://a-z-animals.com/animals/blind-snake/ A-Z Animals]
==External links== *{{Wikispecies-inline|Xerotyphlops vermicularis|''Xerotyphlops vermicularis''}} *{{Commons category-inline|Xerotyphlops vermicularis|''Xerotyphlops vermicularis''}}
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[[Category:Xerotyphlops|vermicularis]] [[Category:Reptiles described in 1820]] [[Category:Snakes of Jordan]]
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