Joshua's blind snake

Joshua's blind snake (Trilepida joshuai) is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Colombia.^[3][4][2]

Joshua's blind snake
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Leptotyphlopidae
Genus:	Trilepida
Species:	T. joshuai
Binomial name
Trilepida joshuai (Dunn, 1944)
Synonyms[2]
Leptotyphlops joshuai Dunn, 1944 Tricheilostoma joshuai — Adalsteinsson et al., 2009 Trilepida joshuai — Hedges, 2011

Etymology

The specific name, joshuai, is a reference to Joshua, victor at the Battle of Jericho, in reference to the type locality, Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia.^[5]

Geographic range

T. joshuai is found in the Colombian departments of Antioquia, Caldas, and Valle del Cauca.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of T. joshuai is forest, at altitudes of 1,600–2,200 m (5,200–7,200 ft), but it has also been found in urban areas.^[1]

Description

T. joshuai is black dorsally, and white ventrally. The total length (including tail) of the holotype is 27 cm (11 in).^[6]

Behavior

T. joshuai is terrestrial and fossorial.^[1]

Diet

T. joshuai preys upon insect larvae and termites.^[1]

Reproduction

T. joshuai is oviparous.^[2]