The growing spread of the non-native brahminy blind snake, Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803), across the Maltese archipelago

Abstract

The brahminy blindsnake, Indotyphlops braminus, native to the Indo-Malayan region, is a small fossorial snake with many populations worldwide introduced, whose presence in Malta was first reported in 2020 in a Marsa sport center. Its spread, as a "contaminant" of soil, has globally increased following the plant trade globalisation. Here, we update the distribution of I. braminus in the Maltese archipelago. Data were collected through targeted sampling and citizen science methods. Records with mutual distances greater than 100 m were treated as different sites. 47 records, spanning between 2017 and 2026, were collected, for a total of 65 I. braminus individuals. The species was found in 34 different sites in the islands of Malta (n=31), Gozo (n=2), and Comino (n=1). Most of the records was linked to highly anthropized environments: 38.3% from 12 different plant nurseries and garden centers, 17% inside or close to crops and greenhouses, 12.8% from six different public green areas, 10.6% from buildings and urbanized areas, 8.5% in or close to private gardens. In four cases the species was found outside of human settlement, such as eucalyptus reforestations and garrigue. Interestingly, in non-irrigated sites I. braminus has been sometimes found in relatively moist microhabitats, such as shady carob litter and close to artificial water-bodies. Our results highlight an unexpectedly wide distribution of I. braminus in the Maltese archipelago and confirm its dispersal pattern, clearly linked to plant trade. The species' occurrence is likely linked to multiple introductions rather than active spread. Observations in dry and seminatural areas, although apparently marginal, deserve further monitoring to assess whether they are accidental or due to the presence of stable populations.