Reptile
Ground Puppy
Leptotyphlops albifrons
The Ground Puppy is a tiny, thread-like, burrowing snake belonging to the family Leptotyphlopidae, one of the most ancient snake lineages on Earth. Barely thicker than a large earthworm, it spends its entire life underground or in leaf litter, feeding on ant and termite larvae. Completely harmless to humans, it is fully protected under the Conservation of Wildlife Act.
Description
Leptotyphlops albifrons is one of the smallest snakes in T&T, reaching only 15 to 25 cm. Its body is cylindrical, shiny, and pink-brown or purplish in colour, resembling an earthworm to a casual observer. The head is small, barely distinct from the body, and the eyes are vestigial, covered by scales; the snake is functionally blind. The tail is very short with a tiny spine at the tip.
Ecology
Thread snakes are highly specialised for fossorial life. They use their blunt, hardened heads to burrow through soil and the decomposing leaf layer and follow pheromone trails into ant and termite nests to feed on larvae and pupae. They are entirely harmless, too small to bite anything larger than a small invertebrate. Fully protected under COWA.
Threats
- Habitat disturbance (soil disruption, deforestation)
- Decline of ant and termite colonies in degraded habitats