Oceanic Dispersal Drove Blind Snake Evolution

Blindsnakes are one of the few groups of organisms that inhabited Madagascar when it broke from India about 100 million years ago, and continental drift had a profound impact on how the animals evolved, says a new study published in Biology Letters. Called scolecophidians, the creatures comprise about 260 different species and form the largest group of the world's worm-like snakes. These burrowing animals typically are found in southern continents and tropical islands, but occur on all continents except Antarctica. They have reduced vision -- which is why they are called "blind" -- and they feed on social insects including termites and ants. read more

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