Range: near Chota, northern Peru

​

Sometimes referred to by the vague name or Northern Blindsnake, this Peruvian endemic is little-known and research suffers from a severe lack of accessible information on it (description paper is not online and untranslated). It is known to grow to at least 15 cm in length (though likely exceeds 20), with a slender cylindric build, an ovular dorsally flattened head with a very blunt snout, and a short, thick tail that barely taper to its abrupt spined tip. Middorsal scale count is 232-259, scale row count 14 reduced to 10 caudally. The singular photo located (copyrighted and unable to be shared here) suggests background dorsal coloration is brown, split my 3 narrow black stripes and bordered by a broader lateral black stripe on each side. A large yellow or cream spot adorns the rostral scale, unconnected to the similarly toned ventral surface, and a matching blotch covers the tail spine. This species differs from its closest relatives in smaller size, lower middorsal count, its black chin separating the rostral blotch from ventral color, and its more northerly range.

 

Habitat: known from roughly 2300-2400 meters in elevation, all other information unknown. Likely to be found in soil or under debris.

 

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

 

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

 

Sources: Lehr, E., Wallach, V.,  Köhler, G., & Aguilar, C. (2002). New species of tricolor Leptotyphlops (Reptlia: Squamata: Leptotyphlopidae) from Central Peru. Copeia 2002 (1): 131-136.

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