| Bibron's blind snake | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Typhlopidae |
| Genus: | Afrotyphlops |
| Species: | A. bibronii |
| Binomial name | |
| Afrotyphlops bibronii (A. Smith, 1846) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
Bibron's blind snake (Afrotyphlops bibronii) is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. [1] [2] The species is native to southern Africa. [1] [2] [3]
The specific name, bibronii, is in honor of French herpetologist Gabriel Bibron. [2] [4]
A. bibronii is found in extreme southeastern Botswana, eastern and northern South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, and eastern Zimbabwe, and possibly Mozambique. [1]
A heavy-bodied species of blind snake, A. bibronii is dark olive-brown to brown dorsally, and is paler ventrally. Adults are darker than juveniles. Adults may attain a snout-vent length (SVL) of 29.5 cm (11+5⁄8 in). Its scales are arranged in 30 rows around the body, and there are more than 300 scales in the middorsal row. [3]
The snout is very prominent, with an angular but not sharp edge, below which are located the nostrils. The rostral is very large, extending posteriorly as far as the eyes. The portion of the rostral visible from above is broader than long. The nasals are semidivided, the suture proceeding from the first upper labial. One preocular is present, which is narrower than the nasal or the ocular, and in contact with the second upper labial. There are four upper labials. The eye is distinct, below the suture between the ocular and the preocular. The prefrontal is much larger than the supraoculars and the parietals, which are larger than the body scales. The diameter of the body goes 28 to 36 times into the total length. The tail is short, as broad as long, or broader than long, ending in a spine. [5]
The preferred natural habitats of A. bibronii are coastal grasslands and the Highveld, [3] at altitudes from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). [1]
Bibron's blind snake is fossorial, and will burrow into brood chambers of termites and ants. It is protected from the bites of soldier ants by its close-fitting, shiny scales. [3] It is often flushed to the surface of its burrow after heavy rains or flood. [6]
A. bibronii feeds on larvae and eggs of termites and ants. [3]
A. bibronii is oviparous. [2] Mature females lay eggs from January through March, which is late Summer in southern Africa. Clutch size varies from 5 to 14. Each egg measures about 43 mm × 10 mm (1+11⁄16 in × 3⁄8 in). The embryos within the eggs are well-developed, and the shell walls are thin. The female may remain with the eggs, guarding them until hatching. After only 5–6 days, the hatchlings emerge, with an average total length (including tail) of 11.5 cm (4+1⁄2 in). [3]
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. All species in the family Typhlopidae are fossorial and feed on social fossorial invertebrates such as termites and ants. The tracheal lung is present and chambered in all species. One species, the Brahminy's blind snake, is the only unisexual snake, with the entire population being female and reproducing via parthenogenesis. 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.
Atractaspis bibronii is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognised as being valid. Its common names are the Southern stiletto snake, Bibron's stiletto snake, Side-stabbing snake; previously it was known as Bibron's burrowing asp, Bibron's mole viper, and the mole adder.
Letheobia simonii is a blind snake species endemic to the Middle East. No subspecies are currently recognized.
The Cameroon racer, Poecilopholis cameronensis, is a species of rear-fanged mildly venomous snake endemic to Africa. Poecilopholis is a monotypic genus created for this species.
Aparallactus lineatus, or the lined centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae.
Polemon gracilis, or the graceful snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.
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.
Anilios endoterus is commonly known as the interior blind snake. It is one of 42 species of snake in the genus Anilios (Ramphotyphlops) from the Typhlopidae family living in Australia. These snakes appear to be blind, having vestigial eyes that are extremely sensitive to light. It is a cryptic burrowing snake that lives in tunnels underground, living mainly on a diet of ants. They are found in arid and semi-arid desert regions of central Australia and are considered endangered in New South Wales (NSW).
Rhinotyphlops schinzi, commonly known as Schinz's beaked blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.
Letheobia somalica, also known as the highland beaked snake or Ethiopian blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia.
Rhinotyphlops unitaeniatus, commonly known as the yellow-striped blind snake or the Kenya beaked snake, is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family. It is endemic to Africa.
The Bahamian slender blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae.
Fornasini's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.
Gierra's blind snake, also commonly called the Usambara spotted blind snake and the Usambara spotted worm snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania.
Afrotyphlops obtusus, also known as the slender blind snake or southern gracile blind-snake, is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family. It is endemic to East Africa.
Steinhaus's worm snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Central Africa.
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.
Afrotyphlops is a genus of snakes in the family Typhlopidae.
Afrotyphlops blanfordii, or Blanford's blind-snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is native to the Horn of Africa.
