Neogene climatic oscillations shape the biogeography and evolutionary history of the Eurasian blindsnake

► T. vermicularis encountered a sequence of extinction events, followed by distribution expansion from refugia. ► Ten evolutionary significant units, within this morphologically and ecologically uniform species, exist. ► Climatic changes from wetter to drier conditions in the Late Neogene shaped its evolution and biogeography. ► There is a largely-differentiated evolutionary lineage, which could even be reckoned as a full species. ► Discovery of cryptic lineages within the Eurasian blindsnake produces important information, in conservation terms.