Leptotyphlops conjunctus
Image source: Erwin Sieben
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa: southern tip and Rift Valley regions, Angola, Zimbabwe
The Cape thread snake is a far more widespread species than its common name suggests, having been reported in disjunct distributions in eastern South Africa, Lesotho, western Angola, Zimbabwe, and several locations surrounding the African Rift Valley. It is the center of some taxonomic confusion, having been once placed under synonymy or as a subspecies of L. scutifrons, and with 4 subspecies of its own which have all either been synonymized or elevated to their own species status (L. incognitus, latirostris, and synonymized lepezi) to which some of the disjunct distribution may actually be owed. Maxing out at perhaps 18 cm in length (though likely less), this thicker-bodied but still slender snake possesses a semi-flattened neck and head (the head also slightly wider and with a very blunt snout) and a short tail tapering rapidly to a spike. Midbody scale row count is 14, and coloration is overall dark, earthy brown to black with lighter scale edges and ventral surface.
Habitat: Forested or woodland regions likely buried in moist soil or under rotting bark.
Prey: Feeds on ant and termite larvae.
Lifespan and reproduction: lifespan unknown, likely less than 7 years. Oviparous.
Sources: http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Leptotyphlops&species=conjunctus