Range: vicinity of Lima, Peru

 

Going under the name Tschudi’s blind snake in reference to its original describer, this is a highly range- restricted species known only from the Pacific coastal lowlands of Peru in an approximately 50-75 mile radius of Lima. It is moderately sized, growing to at least 23 cm in length, with a thin cylindrical build and a small, rounded head barely wider than the neck and sporting a blunt rounded nose and slightly flattened profile. The tail is also short and blunt, tapering only just before the tiny spine at the tip. Dorsal scale count is approx. 260, scale row count 14 reduced to 10 caudally. Coloration is light to dark tannish brown or cream, overlain by 7 dark brown to black longitudinal stripes formed by dark central spots on each scale (the head also looks highly patterned due to the light edges of each scale, giving the scientific name “tessellated”). The ventral surface may be similarly toned or slightly paler, and the rostral scale and tail tip are usually adorned by a small whitish blotch. This species can be distinguished from its relatives by its higher dorsal scale count, more slender body form, uniform coloration of stripes around the body, and its ocular scale being separated from the nasal by a supraocular and labial scale.

 

Habitat: information limited, likely to inhabit loose soils or under tree bark, beneath rocks and logs or within termite nests in humid forest.

 

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

 

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

 

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/174367296 Michele (surname unknown) under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/32451-Epictia-tesselata#map-tab
https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/Epictia/tesselata
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34672856#page/193/mode/1up

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14776500#page/176/mode/1up