The specific name, lalandei, is in honor of French naturalist Pierre Antoine Delalande.

[3] R. lalandei is a slender, pinkish-grey, blind snake, which has a pointed nose that it uses for burrowing.

[4] The nostrils are located below the sharp horizontal cutting edge of the snout.

[5] R. lalandei occurs throughout the eastern half of Southern Africa, as far south as Cape Town and with isolated populations in western parts such as Namibia.

[6][7] R. lalandei can be found in a variety of habitats including semidesert, savannah, coastal bush, and fynbos,[4] at altitudes from sea level to 2,200 m (7,200 ft).