Ramphotyphlops
Ramphotyphlops is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes found in southern and southeast Asia, as well as many islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. They occur in a wide variety of habitats. Currently, 21 species are recognized.[2]
| Ramphotyphlops | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Typhlopidae |
| Genus: | Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843 |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
- Common names: long-tailed blindsnakes, long-tailed blind snakes, worm snakes.[2]
Description
Growing to 50–750 mm ( 2–30 in) in length, these snakes occur in a variety of colors from light beige, to red, to blackish brown. They are often difficult to identify properly without the aid of optical magnification. Their heads are conical and tapered into their bodies.
These snakes can be found in ant and termite nests, as well as under fallen leaves and in holes in logs. They are believed to feed on earthworms, as well as the larvae and eggs of ants and termites. They are thought to be oviparous, although this has only been observed in a few species.
Species
| Species[2] | Taxon author *[2] | Subsp.**[2] | Common name | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. acuticaudus | (W. Peters, 1877) | 0 | Palau Island blind snake | |
| R. adocetus | Wynn, Reynolds, Buden, Falanruw & Lynch, 2012 | 0 | ||
| R. angusticeps | (W. Peters, 1877) | 0 | Arboreal blind snake | |
| R. becki | (Tanner, 1948) | 0 | Beck's blind snake | |
| R. bipartitus | (Sauvage, 1879) | 0 | Southern New Guinea blind snake | |
| R. conradi | (Peters, 1875) | 0 | Conrad's worm snake | |
| R. cumingii | (Gray, 1845) | 0 | Cuming's blind snake | |
| R. depressus | (W. Peters, 1880) | 0 | Melanesia blind snake | |
| R. exocoeti | (Boulenger, 1887) | 0 | Christmas Island blind snake | |
| R. flaviventer | (W. Peters, 1864) | 0 | Yellow-bellied blind snake | |
| R. hatmaliyeb | Wynn, Reynolds, Buden, Falanruw, & Lynch, 2012 | 0 | ||
| R. lineatus | (Schlegel, 1839) | 0 | Striped blind snake, striped worm snake, lined blind snake | |
| R. lorenzi | (F. Werner, 1909) | 0 | Lorenz's blind snake | |
| R. mansuetus | (Barbour, 1921) | 0 | Small-headed blind snake | |
| R. marxi | (Wallach, 1993) | 0 | Marx's worm snake | |
| R. multilineatusT | (Schlegel, 1839) | 0 | Hook-nosed blind snake | |
| R. olivaceus | (Gray, 1845) | 0 | Olive blind snake | |
| R. similis | (Brongersma, 1934) | 0 | Manukwari blind snake | |
| R. suluensis | Taylor, 1918 | 0 | ||
| R. supranasalis | (Brongersma, 1934) | 0 | Salawati blind snake | |
| R. willeyi | (Boulenger, 1900) | 0 | Loyalty Islands blind snake | |
*) A taxon author in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Ramphotyphlops.
**) Not including the nominate subspecies.
T) Type species.[1]
References
- 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).
- "Ramphotyphlops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
Further reading
- Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Ramphotyphlops, new genus, p. 24). (in Latin).
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ramphotyphlops. |
- Ramphotyphlops at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 29 August 2007.
- Ramphotyphlops at Lamington National Park. Accessed 29 August 2007.