Range: Vijus, southeast of Lima, Peru

 

Known only from its holotype collection, this blindsnake of Andean valleys was discovered only in 2010. It is a notably small species with current known length of just under 11 cm, with a very thin cylindric body and small rounded, dorsally flattened head that is nearly of equal width to the neck. The tail is slightly longer and more tapered than many of its relatives, but still blunt and tipped in a small spine. Dorsal scale count is 188, scale row count 14 reduced to 10 caudally. Color is dorsally uniform dark gray-brown with lighter cream-white edges giving a mildly striped-like appearance. Rostral scale is slightly grayer, ventral surface lighter gray-brown with the ventral tail tip and spine yellow. This species is distinct from most of its relatives in its small size and low dorsal count, lack of a true striped pattern and no rostral blotch.

 

Habitat: 1290 meters in elevation in inter-Andean valley equatorial dry forest. Found under rocks and logs, or in loose soil.

 

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

 

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

 

Sources: Koch et al. (2015). Three new endemic species of Epictia Gray, 1845 (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae) from the dry forest of northwestern Peru. Zootaxa 3694(2): 228-244.