| Rhinotyphlops schinzi | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Typhlopidae |
| Genus: | Rhinotyphlops |
| Species: | R. schinzi |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhinotyphlops schinzi (Boettger, 1887) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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. [2] [3]
The specific name, schinzi, is in honor of "Herr Dr. Hans Schinz", who collected the first specimens in 1884 and 1885 in the Kalahari Desert. [4] He should not be confused with Swiss naturalist Heinrich Rudolf Schinz (1777-1861).
R. schinzi is found from Namibia and neighboring Botswana south to Calvinia and Kenhardt in Northern Cape, South Africa. [5]
The coloration of R. schinzi varies from yellowish to flesh-colored. The dorsum is marked with blue-black to reddish-brown blotches which may appear as crossbars. The venter and sides of the body are unmarked.
Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 28 cm (11 inches).
The dorsal scales are arranged in 22-26 rows. There are more than 400 dorsal scales in the vertebral series. [5]
The snout is strongly hooked, with the nostrils located below the sharp cutting edge. The rostral is large, but not extending as far as the eyes. There are four upper labials. The nasal is semidivided, the cleft proceeding from the first upper labial. A preocular is present, which is narrower than the nasal or the ocular, and in contact with the third upper labial. The eyes are distinct. The upper head scales are larger than the body scales. The diameter of body 45 times in the total length. The tail is as long as broad, ending in a spine. [6]
The habitat of R. schinzi is arid savannah and semidesert. [5]
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.
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.
Gerrhopilus thurstoni, or Thurston's worm snake, is a species of harmless blind snake in the family Gerrhopilidae. The species is native to western India. No recognized subspecies exist.
Letheobia simonii is a blind snake species endemic to the Middle East. 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.
The brown-snouted blind snake, also known commonly as Wied's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Rhinotyphlops boylei, commonly known as Boyle's beaked blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.
Cross's beaked snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. R. crossii is endemic to West Africa.
Letheobia graueri, also known as the Lake Tanganyika gracile blind snake, Grauer's gracile blind snake, Sternfeld's beaked snake, Grauer's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Middle and East 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.
Letheobia newtoni is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae.
Rhinotyphlops scorteccii, commonly known as Scortecci's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Somalia.
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.
Bibron's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.
The Bahamian slender blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae.
Conrad's worm 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.
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 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.
