Bolyeriidae

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Bolyeriidae
Casarea dussumieri IleRonde 860513.jpg
Round Island ground boa, Casarea dussumieri
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Superfamily: Bolyerioidea
Family: Bolyeriidae
Hoffstetter, 1946
Synonyms
Common names: Mauritius snakes, [2] Round Island boas, splitjaw snakes.

The Bolyeriidae are a family [2] of snakes native to Mauritius and a few islands around it, especially Round Island. They also used to be found on the island of Mauritius, but were extirpated there due to human influence and foraging pigs in particular. [3] These snakes used to be placed in the Boidae, but are now classed as a separate family. Two monotypic genera are recognized, but only a single species is extant (not extinct). [2] Bolyeriidae appear to be most closely related to the Asian genus Xenophidion . [4]

Contents

Geographic range

Found in Mauritius and its surrounding islets such as Serpent island, Round island, Flat island etc. [1]

Genera

Genus [2] Taxon author [2] Species [2] Common nameGeographic range [1]
Bolyeria T Gray, 18421Round Island burrowing boa [5] Mauritius.
Casarea Gray, 18421Round Island ground boa [6] Mauritius.

T) Type genus. [1]

Both of these monotypic genera once inhabited Mauritius and/or a number of islands around it. However, Bolyeria hasn't been reported since 1975 and is believed to be extinct, while Casarea is known to survive only on Round Island. [1]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Acrochordus</i> Family of reptiles

The Acrochordidae, commonly known as wart snakes, Java wart snakes, file snakes, elephant trunk snakes, or dogface snakes are a monogeneric family created for the genus Acrochordus. This is a group of basal aquatic snakes found in Australia and tropical Asia. Currently, three species are recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhlopidae</span> Family of snakes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anomalepididae</span> Family of snakes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leptotyphlopidae</span> Family of snakes

The Leptotyphlopidae are a family of snakes found in North America, South America, Africa and Asia. All are fossorial and adapted to burrowing, feeding on ants and termites. Two subfamilies are recognized.

<i>Xenopeltis</i> Genus of snakes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropidophiidae</span> Family of snakes

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<i>Typhlops</i> Genus of snakes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round Island burrowing boa</span> Extinct species of snake

The Round Island burrowing boa is an extinct species of snake, in the monotypic genus Bolyeria, in the family Bolyeriidae. The species, which was endemic to Mauritius, was last seen on Round Island in 1975. There are no recognized subspecies.

<i>Tropidophis</i> Genus of snakes

Tropidophis, common name Caribbean dwarf boas, wood snakes or West Indian wood snakes, is a genus of dwarf boas endemic to the West Indies and South America. Currently, either 17 or 33 species are recognized, depending on the authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round Island boa</span> Species of snake

The Round Island boa, also known commonly as the Round Island keel-scaled boa and the Round Island ground boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the monotypic genus Casarea in the family Bolyeriidae. The species is endemic to Round Island, Mauritius. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Rhinotyphlops</i> Genus of snakes

Rhinotyphlops is a genus of blind snakes in the family Typhlopidae. The genus is found in Africa, the Middle East, and India. Some species formerly assigned to the genus Rhinotyphlops have been moved to the genera Afrotyphlops and Letheobia.

Helminthophis is a genus of non-venomous blind snakes found in southern Central America and northwestern South America. Currently, 3 monotypic species are recognized.

<i>Typhlophis</i> Genus of snakes

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.

Cyclotyphlops deharvengi, or Deharveng’s blind snake, is a species of blind snake placed in the monotypic genus Cyclotyphlops. It is found in southeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Xenophidion is a genus of snakes first described in 1995, and the only genus of the monotypic family Xenophidiidae. Commonly referred to as spinejaw snakes, this genus is found in Borneo and peninsular Malaysia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA. (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bolyeriidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  3. Bolyeridae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 3 November 2008.
  4. Lawson, R.; Slowinski, J. B.; Burbrink, F. T. (2004). "A molecular approach to discerning the phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic snake Xenophidion schaeferi among the Alethinophidia". Journal of Zoology. 263 (3): 285–294. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.504.6967 . doi:10.1017/s0952836904005278.
  5. Species Bolyeria multocarinata at The Reptile Database . Accessed 17 August 2007.
  6. Species Casarea dussumieri at The Reptile Database . Accessed 17 August 2007.

Further reading