Leptotyphlops scutifrons
Image source: Johan Marais
Range: east-central South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, south and central Mozambique, east Namibia, southeast Angola, and Zimbabwe
Peter’s threadsnake is one of the most widespread species in the genus, found across most of South Africa (minus the Western Cape region) and the eastern half of Namibia just into Angola, across to the central coast of Mozambique (though a large gap exists in the southern half of the country where this species has not yet been found). This taxon grows to 28 cm in length (averaging 20 cm), with a variable but typically very slender build. The head is just wider and slightly flatter than the neck, with a large shield-like rostral scale a third or more the width of the head, and the tail is short and conical with a prominent spine tip. Scale row count midbody is 14, 10 on the tail, dorsal count is variable but averages around 260. Coloration is typically a uniform shiny black above and below, each scale often edged in a thin silver line. Interestingly, there are some reports that this species may readily change color in response to its environment, from black to silver. This species can be distinguished from its relatives by the broad rostral scale and uniform color.
Habitat: coastal forests to scrub vegetation and grassland, from 0-1800 meters in elevation, under rocks and leaf litter and within termite mounds.
Prey: small soft-bodied invertebrates, especially termite eggs and larvae.
Lifespan and reproduction: lifespan unknown, likely under 10 years. Oviparous, lays 2-7 elongate cream-white eggs in summer.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00445096.1966.11447338
https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/snake/peters-thread-snake-2/
http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Leptotyphlops&species=scutifrons