Leptotyphlopidae

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Leptotyphlopidae
Leptotyphlops humilis - head.jpg
Western blind snake, Rena humilis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Infraorder: Scolecophidia
Family: Leptotyphlopidae
Stejneger, 1892
Subfamilies

Epictinae
Leptotyphlopinae

Synonyms

The Leptotyphlopidae (commonly called slender blind snakes or thread snakes [2] ) 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. [2]

Contents

Description

Texas blind snake (Rena dulcis) on a hand Rena dulcis on hand.jpg
Texas blind snake ( Rena dulcis ) on a hand

Relatively small snakes, leptotyphlopids rarely exceed 30 cm (12 in) in length; only Trilepida macrolepis and Leptotyphlops occidentalis grow larger. The cranium and upper jaws are immobile and no teeth are in the upper jaw. The lower jaw consists of a much elongated quadrate bone, a tiny compound bone, and a relatively larger dentary bone. [3] The body is cylindrical with a blunt head and a short tail. The scales are highly polished. The pheromones they produce protect them from attack by termites. [4] Among these snakes is what is believed to be the world's smallest: L. carlae (Hedges, 2008). [5]

Geographic range

Leptotyphlopids are found in Africa, western Asia from Turkey to eastern India, on Socotra Island, and from the southwestern United States south through Mexico and Central America to South America, though not in the high Andes. In Pacific South America, they occur as far south as southern coastal Peru, and on the Atlantic side as far as Uruguay and Argentina. In the Caribbean, they are found on the Bahamas, Hispaniola, and the Lesser Antilles. [1]

Habitat

Leptotyphlopids occur in a wide variety of habitats from arid areas to rainforest, and are known to occur near ant and termite nests.

Feeding

The diets of leptotyphlopids consist mostly of termite or ant larvae, pupae, and adults. Most species suck out the contents of insect bodies and discard the exoskeleton.[ citation needed ]

Reproduction

Snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae are oviparous. [3]

Taxonomy

Forest thread snake (Leptotyphlops sylvicolus), from the type genus Leptotyphlops Leptotyphlops sylvicolus.jpg
Forest thread snake ( Leptotyphlops sylvicolus ), from the type genus Leptotyphlops

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Rena humilis</i> Species of snake

Rena humilis, known commonly as the western blind snake, the western slender blind snake, or the western threadsnake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Six subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Rena dulcis</i> Species of snake

Rena dulcis, also known commonly as the Texas blind snake, the Texas slender blind snake, or the Texas threadsnake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to the Southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Myriopholis blanfordi, also known commonly as Blanford's worm snake and the Sindh thread snake, is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to South Asia and Iran, and possibly further west in the Middle East. There are no recognized subspecies.

<i>Leptotyphlops</i> Genus of snakes

Leptotyphlops is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes and threadsnakes, in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The genus is endemic to and found throughout Africa. Eleven species have been moved to the genus Trilepida, and other species have been moved to the genera Epacrophis, Epictia, Mitophis, Myriopholis, Namibiana, Rena, Siagonodon, Tetracheilostoma, and Tricheilostoma.

Bailey's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Degerbol's blind snake</span> Species of snake

Degerbøl's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to southern South America.

The Michoacán slender blind snake, also known commonly as la culebrilla ciega de Michoacán in Spanish, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Michoacán, Mexico.

Myriopholis burii, commonly known as the Arabian blind snake or Bury's worm snake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.

The Cairo blind snake is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amaral's blind snake</span> Species of snake

Amaral's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to South America.

Dugand's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to South America.

The Santander blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-scaled blind snake</span> Species of snake

The big-scaled blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Central America and northern South America.

The giant blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.

Nurse's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae.

Myriopholis perreti is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to western Central Africa.

The Espírito Santo blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Wilson's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epictinae</span> Subfamily of snakes

Epictinae are a subfamily of snakes found in the New World and equatorial Africa. Members of this subfamily tend to have short, thick tails, and the fewest subcaudal scales. It comprises two tribes, three subtribes, ten genera, and 86 species.

<i>Trilepida</i> Genus of snakes

Trilepida is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae.

References

  1. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. 1 2 "Leptotyphlopidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  3. 1 2 Leptotyphlopidae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 3 November 2008.
  4. ↑ Field Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa - Bill Branch (Struik 1988)
  5. ↑ Hedges SB (2008). "At the lower size limit in snakes: two new species of threadsnakes (Squamata, Leptotyphlopidae, Leptotyphlops) from the Lesser Antilles". Zootaxa1841: 1-30.PDF at Zootaxa. Accessed 28 July 2008.
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