Range: northern Amazon, in Colombia and Venezuela

 

A somewhat mystery species representing among the first few blindsnakes described from the region, this species is fitted with the very unhelpful common name of “South American blind snake,) and has been nearly unseen since description, oft confused for the highly similar E. amazonica. Holotype size is small, barely under 9 cm, though this likely is a species able to reach over 12-16 cm in length with a slender cylindric build and very rounded, blunt head only barely broader than the neck. The tail is short and blunt, only slightly tapered to a short spine at the tip. Dorsal scale count is 250, scale row count 14 reduced to 10 caudally. Coloration is described as a relatively uniform median brown, paling toward the sides and belly, and with a white to cream spot on the rostral and surrounding scales with a matching blotch on the tail tip and underside. Distinctions between this species and its closest relative appear to be in higher dorsal scale count, uniform brown rather than black or striped color and cream rather than yellow blotches, and potentially slightly smaller size.

 

Habitat: unknown, though likely loose soils or under tree bark within tropical rainforest.

 

Prey: likely small soft-bodied invertebrates such as ant and termite larvae.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: lifespan unknown, likely under 10 years. Oviparous.

 

Sources: https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Epictia&species=signata

Hahn, D. E. (1979). The identity of the blind snake Stenostoma signatum (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae). Herpetologica 35 (1): 57-60.