Snakes of this family are peculiar in appearance and closely resemble worms than snakes; and hence, called worm snakes or thread snakes. They are very slender-bodied and smooth-scaled. Usually, the eyes of these snakes are covered by special type of scales called the “Ocular” scales, which are not found in most of the other snakes. Tail is short and blunt, and almost resembles the head. All the members of this family are fossorial in habit and are excellent burrowers. They feed on small insects and earthworms. One member, Ramphotyphlops brahminus is said to be parthenogenetic in reproduction, which means, the females produce self-fertilized eggs and there are no males. These snakes belong to different genera as listed below. An * indicates endemic species.

Ramphotyphlops brahminus (DAUDIN, 1803)
Typhlops porrectus (DAUDIN, 1803)
Typhlops thurstoni* BOETTGER, 1890
Typhlops tindalli* SMITH, 1943
Typhlops beddomei* BOULENGER, 1890
Gryptotyphlops acutus DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1844