Range: East-central Namibia from Angola south into NW South Africa

 

Sometimes referred to as the Western Thread or Worm snake, this species is native to the Namib Desert region stretching across most of Namibia north to south, just edging into neighboring countries. It is recorded as growing to a maximum of 32 cm in length (one of the largest in this family), though usually less than 27 and often only around 17 cm at adulthood, with an extremely slender body form. The head is barely wider than the neck, blunt and rounded with a notable overbite, and the tail is short and tipped in a small spur. Dorsal scale count is up to 350, scale row count 14 midbody and 12 caudally. Coloration is a dark brown in the center of each dorsal scale with pinkish tones in background and ventrally. This species can be distinguished from its relatives partly by its larger size, and my minute differences in cranial scale or internal structures.

 

Habitat: recorded from the Orange River region roughly north into the edge of Angola, in arid and semi-arid regions in sandy soils or under rocks and debris.

 

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

 

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

 

Sources: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/102740306/original.jpeg

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

D. G. BROADLEY et al. (1988). LIFE HISTORY NOTES. The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa, 34:1, 44-49

Adalsteinsson, S. A. et al. (2009). Molecular phylogeny, classification, and biogeography of snakes of the Family Leptotyphlopidae (Reptilia, Squamata).Zootaxa 2244: 1-50.

https://uk.inaturalist.org/taxa/32474-Namibiana-occidentalis

https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Namibiana&species=occidentalis