Nature Comes Up With A New Way To Make Everyone Feel Awkward.

For all the time we’ve existed here on Earth and despite all we’ve discovered, there are still many mysteries we’re yet to uncover about our planet. One such mystery is the blind snake  of Brazil, or as many are calling it: the “penis snake”.

“Penis snake” (Which I think that sounds a little redundant) and blind snake are not the official names, by the way. They’ve generally been referred to as the “floppy snake” (Maybe there’s a pill to help it with that?), but it’s official scientific name is the Atretochoana erecti-um-I mean-eiselti.

But, don’t let this little guy’s appearance fool you. Scientists have confirmed that it isn’t a snake at all. Or a penis, in case you were wondering. According to the smart guys, it’s actually a species of caecilian amphibian that’s more closely related to a salamander and not a snake.

“That’s a relief! Snakes freak me out.”

The discovery of the Atretochoana eiselti was made last year when a dam on the Madeira River in northern Brazil was being drained. Scientists found six of these, some measuring up to one meter long, last November. They’ve only just made information on this new creature public after they took the time to study it properly.

While scientists say the two are unrelated, it looks like old Floppy here also has some similarities with the earthworm in that it prefers to hide deep with the warm, moist… soil. They’ve found that it has a strong skull and pointed snout, which it uses to penetrate deep into the earth and uses strong muscles in its body help thrust it even deeper (If your mind is currently in the gutter, it’s your own fault).

The discovery of yet another previously undiscovered species has scientists excited, to say the least, and they say that the Amazon is full of such surprises like our floppy friend. As one biologist, Julian Tupan said:

The Amazon is a box of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There are still much more to be discovered.

Indeed… And now we know that the Atretochoana eiselti is out there, boring its way, deep inside that box.

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