Blind Snakes: Typhlopidae

Blind snakes eat termites, ants, worms, and other small invertebrates (in-VER-teh-brehts). Invertebrates are animals without backbones. Some of the insects attempt to bite or sting in defense, but the thick, overlapping scales on the blind snake protect it from harm. The snakes follow ant trails to their nests by flicking out their tongues, which they use to smell and taste the trail. They are very fast eaters, sometimes gobbling up to 100 insects in just a minute's time. They can eat so rapidly because their upper teeth can be pushed out and then pulled back into the mouth, somewhat like a fast-moving rake. When they find an anthill, for example, they can rake through it and pull in prey very quickly.