Description: The Texas blind snake appears much like a shiny earthworm. It is pinkish-brown (puce) in color with a deep sheen to its scales. It appears not to be segmented. The eyes are no more than two dark dots under the head scales. Unique among snakes, their upper jaws contain no teeth, and the lower jaw is incredibly short (less than half the length of the skull). When ingesting prey, the snakes flex the front of their short lower jaw quickly in a raking motion to fling prey into their esophagus. Adults can grow to approximately 11 inches in total length, including the tail. On the top of the head, between the ocular scales, L. dulcis has three scales (L. humilis has one scale).
Habitat: The species' habitat consists of arid and semi-arid areas with sandy or loamy soils, usually near moisture, including rocky and sandy desert, cedar-ocotillo associations, rock-strewn hillsides and mountain slopes, thornbrush, cedar savanna, live oak and juniper woodlands, mesquite-lined creek banks, open grassy plains, and sometimes residential areas. This secretive, fossorial snakes sometimes can be found under rocks, logs, or debris.
Range:Rena dulcis is found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In the USA it occurs in southwestern Kansas, western Oklahoma including the panhandle, central and southern Texas, west through southern New Mexico to southeastern Arizona. The type locality given by Baird and Girard is "Between San Pedro and Camanche [sic] Springs, Tex." (Comanche Springs, Texas).
Diet: The diet of R. dulcis consists primarily of termite and ant larvae.
Reproduction:Rena dulcis is oviparous. Eggs are laid in an underground chamber, in a hollow in decaying vegetation, or in a rocky fissure.
Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category.
Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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