Argyrophis diardii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Typhlopidae |
Genus: | Argyrophis |
Species: | A. diardii |
Binomial name | |
Argyrophis diardii Schlegel, 1839 | |
Synonyms [2] | |
List
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Argyrophis diardii, commonly known as Diard's blind snake, the Indochinese blind snake, the large blind snake, or the large worm snake, is a species of harmless snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to South Asia and Southeast Asia. [1] There are two recognized subspecies.
A. diardii was first described by Hermann Schlegel in 1839, as Typhlops Diardii. [4] The type locality of Schlegel's specimen was "Cochinchina [southern Vietnam]". Saint Girons (1972: 32) described it as "Cochinchina sans certitude [southern Vietnam without certainty]", and Hahn (1980: 56) as "East Indies". [3]
Both the specific name, diardii, and the common name, "Diard's blindsnake", are in honor of French naturalist Pierre-Médard Diard. [4] [5]
Two subspecies of Typhlops diardii are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies: [2]
A. diardii is heavy-bodied for a blindsnake. It has 22–25 scale rows around the body at midbody. The belly is distinctly flat. [2]
A. diardii is found in India (Jalpaiguri-West Bengal, as far west as Dun Valley in Assam), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, Nias Island, Sumatra, Web Island (off northwest Sumatra), Bangka, and Borneo. [1]
The preferred natural habitats of A. diardii are forest, shrubland, and grassland, but it has also been found in agricultural areas. [1]
The Typhlopidae are a family of blind snakes. They are found mostly in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and all mainland Australia and various islands. The rostral scale overhangs the mouth to form a shovel-like burrowing structure. They live underground in burrows, and since they have no use for vision, their eyes are mostly vestigial. They have light-detecting black eye spots, and teeth occur in the upper jaw. Typhlopids do not have dislocatable lower jaw articulations restricting them to prey smaller than their oral aperture. The tail ends with a horn-like scale. Most of these species are oviparous. Currently, 18 genera are recognized containing over 200 species.
Amerotyphlops brongersmianus, known commonly as Brongersma's worm snake or the South American striped blindsnake, is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is native to South America and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Amerotyphlops trinitatus, known commonly as the Trinidad blindsnake, Trinidad worm snake, and Trinidad burrowing snake, is a harmless blind snake species in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Trinidad and Tobago. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Pierre-Médard Diard was a French naturalist and explorer.
Indotyphlops braminus, commonly known as the brahminy blind snake and other names, is a non-venomous blind snake species found mostly in Africa and Asia, but has been introduced in many other parts of the world. They are completely fossorial animals, with habits and appearance similar to earthworms, for which they are often mistaken, although close examination reveals tiny scales rather than the annular segments characteristic of true earthworms. The species is parthenogenetic and all known specimens have been female. The specific name is a Latinized form of the word Brahmin. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Grypotyphlops acutus, also known as the beaked worm snake, beaked blind snake, or beak-nosed worm snake, is a harmless blind snake species endemic to peninsular India. It is the only species in the genus Grypotyphlops. No subspecies are currently recognized.
The Andaman worm snake is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Gerrhopilidae. The species is endemic to the Andaman Islands. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Beddome's worm snake is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Gerrhopilidae. The species is native to southern India. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Argyrophis oatesii, also known commonly as the Andaman Island worm snake or Oates's blind snake, is a species of harmless snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to the Andaman Islands. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Indotyphlops porrectus, the slender worm snake, is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to South Asia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Not further Study available about this species. Because their number is almost non-existent and their picture has not been recorded yet۔
Typhlops is a genus of blind snakes in the family Typhlopidae. The genus is endemic to the West Indies. Some species which were formerly placed in the genus Typhlops have been moved to the genera Afrotyphlops, Amerotyphlops, Anilios, Antillotyphlops, Argyrophis, Cubatyphlops, Indotyphlops, Letheobia, Madatyphlops, Malayotyphlops, and Xerotyphlops.
Typhlophis is a monotypic genus created for the blind snake species, Typhlophis squamosus, found along the Atlantic coast of South America from the Guianas to Pará in Brazil, as well as in Trinidad. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Leptotyphlops nigricans, also known as the black threadsnake or black worm snake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. It is endemic to Africa.
Rhinotyphlops lalandei, known commonly as Delalande's beaked blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.
Typhlops capitulatus, commonly known as the Haitian pale-lipped blind snake or Richmond's worm snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Haiti. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Madatyphlops domerguei is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
The Cayman Brac blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae.
Argyrophis klemmeri, also known as Klemmer's blind snake or the Kuala Lumpur worm snake, is a species of Asian snake in the family Typhlopidae.
Afrotyphlops schlegelii, commonly known as Schlegel's beaked blind snake or Schlegel's giant blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to eastern and southern Africa, and bears the distinction of being the world's largest typhlopid. It is harmless to humans and lives exclusively on a diet of termites.