A Question one of our members had for me.
Yes that's it!!!! Thanks so much The head on this thing does match exactly the head on our gal. At least we assume it's a gal. The Florida worm lizzard has been returned to it's rightful habitat. My kids will be happy to know that you matched it up with something besides a Brahminy. Thanks again for getting back to me.
----- Original Message -----
From: Victor E. Beitelman
To: The Francis Family
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 1:31 AM
Subject: RE: Is this a Brahminy blind snake??
Hello Janay
I hope this is of some help.
http://www.nsis.org/gallery/wl-fl_worm_lizard.html
The Florida Worm Lizard, Rhineura floridana, is found in dry upland areas throughout the peninsula south to Highlands County. Its scales arranged in rings make it look much like a large (11") pale or pink earthworm. It has no legs, eyes, or ears and its mouth is recessed under its jaw. It lives underground except during September and October when it often comes above ground. It must come to the surface if its burrow becomes flooded.
Florida worm lizard
Rhineura floridana
Not a lizard, not a snake, and certainly not a worm, the peculiar Florida worm lizard is a burrower that occurs only in dry habitats in central Florida. (Taxonomically, it's a member of the Amphisbaenia, one of three suborders of squamate reptiles, the other two being lizards and snakes.) Highly adapted for a life underground, the worm lizard's eyes are covered over with scales and the snout is wedge-shaped and very rigid for pushing through the sand. Worm lizards (they get up to 12" long) are actually not uncommon but they stay underground and are rarely seen.
The Florida worm lizard is the only amphisbanian native to the United States. Other, distantly related, species occur in Africa and Central and South America. Fossils tell us that the closest relative of the Florida worm lizard lived in the North American Great Plains 25 million years ago. They have since gone extinct everywhere except central Florida.
Florida Worm Lizard Pics
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The Florida worm lizard is the only ringed lizard species found in Florida.
The Florida worm lizard looks like a pale earthworm. On closer inspection, it looks, moves, and feels more like a blind snake.
Color ranges from a fleshy color to pale pink. The nose and tail may be darker.
The mouth is recessed to protect it while burrowing.
A persistent burrower, they are sometimes seen when they pop up from beneath leaf litter, especially if they get wet, and hurry back underground.
-----Original Message-----
From: The Francis Family [mailto:jfranci6@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 5:00 PM
To: viperfx@covad.net
Subject: Is this a Brahminy blind snake??
Hello, I am looking for some type of info on an interesting little snake we found. This snake is a pearly pink (almost white actually) and is definately a blind snake type. All we can find in Florida is a dark colored blind snake variety that supposedly does not reach more than 6 or 7 inches. The little lady we found is a whopping 11 inches. The closest I can come in description size and pictures is the Western Blind Snake not known to live in Florida. I thought a herpetoligist would know a lot more about her species and appreciate any info you could give me.
I can send pictures and pictures of measurement as well.
Janay
