Malawi blind snake

Last updated

Malawi blind snake
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Typhlopidae
Genus: Afrotyphlops
Species:
A. obtusus
Binomial name
Afrotyphlops obtusus
(Peters, 1865)
Synonyms

The Malawi blind snake (Afrotyphlops obtusus), also known as the slender blind snake or southern gracile blind snake, [1] [2] is a species of snake in the Typhlopidae family. [3] [4] It is endemic to Africa.

Contents

Geographic range

It is found in southern Malawi, northern Mozambique, and extreme eastern Zimbabwe. [5]

Description

Dorsally, it is dark brown, with the base of each scale paler. Ventrally, it is pale brown to cream-colored. Maximum snout-vent length (SVL) is 37 cm (14+12 in). The scales are arranged in 24 or 26 rows around the body, and there are more than 300 scales in the vertebral row. [5]

Snout very prominent, rounded. Nostrils located inferiorly (ventrally). Rostral large, more than half as broad as the head; portion of rostral visible from below as long as broad. Nasal semidivided, the cleft proceeding from the first upper labial. Preocular much narrower than the nasal or the ocular, in contact with the second and third upper labials. Four upper labials. Eyes not distinguishable. Prefrontals and supraoculars broad. Diameter of body 43 to 50 times in the total length. Tail broader than long, ending in a spine. [6]

Habitat

This species prefers loose humic soil in forests. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Psammophis condanarus</i> Species of snake

Psammophis condanarus, the sand snake, is a species of snake found in dry low country zones of Indian peninsula, Pakistan and Nepal. It is a fast-moving, diurnal, terrestrial species and lives in stony outcrops and boulders. It was first described from Ganjam area of Odisha State and then later on recorded from many parts of the Indian subcontinent.

Letheobia simonii is a blind snake species endemic to the Middle East. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Elapotinus</i> Genus of snakes

Elapotinus is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged snake species, Elapotinus picteti. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It is also known commonly as Jan's snake in honor of Italian herpetologist Giorgio Jan. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Hypoptophis is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) mildly venomous snake species, Hypoptophis wilsonii. The species, which is endemic to Africa, is in the subfamily Aparallactinae of the family Atractaspididae. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

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 niger is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Western Africa.

<i>Atractaspis aterrima</i> Species of snake

Atractaspis aterrima, commonly known as the slender burrowing asp or mole viper, is a species of fossorial, venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. The specific epithet, aterrima, meaning "blackest", is the superlative form of the Latin adjective ater, meaning "black".

Polemon acanthias, or Reinhardt's snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.

<i>Polemon collaris</i> Species of snake

Polemon collaris, or the collared snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.

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.

<i>Leptotyphlops nigricans</i> Species of snake

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.

<i>Aparallactus guentheri</i> Species of snake

Aparallactus guentheri, or the black centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to Africa.

<i>Aparallactus lunulatus</i> Species of snake

Aparallactus lunulatus, or the reticulated centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae, which is endemic to Africa.

<i>Rhinotyphlops schinzi</i> Species of snake

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.

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

Bibron's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Fornasini's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

<i>Afrotyphlops schlegelii</i> Species of snake

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.

<i>Afrotyphlops</i> Genus of snakes

Afrotyphlops is a genus of snakes in the family Typhlopidae.

References

  1. 1 2 Afrotyphlops obtusus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 6 August 2018.
  2. Branch, Bill. 2004. Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa, Third Revised edition, Second impression. Ralph Curtis Books. Sanibel Island, Florida. ISBN   0-88359-042-5. p. 54.
  3. "Typhlops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  4. McDiarmid, Roy W., Jonathan A. Campbell, and T'Shaka A. Touré, 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1
  5. 1 2 3 Branch, 2004.
  6. Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families Typhlopidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. p. 38.

Further reading