| Leptotyphlopidae | |
|---|---|
| Western blind snake, Leptotyphlops humilis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Infraorder: | Scolecophidia |
| Family: | Leptotyphlopidae Stejneger, 1892 |
| Synonyms | |
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The Leptotyphlopidae (commonly called Slender Blind Snakes or Thread Snakes[2]) are a family of snakes found in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. All are fossorial and adapted to burrowing, feeding on ants and termites. Two genera are recognized comprising eighty-seven species.[2]
Contents |
These are relatively small snakes rarely exceeding 30 cm in length; only Leptotyphlops macrolepis and L. occidentalis grow larger. The cranium and upper jaws are immobile and there are no teeth 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 blunt head and short tail. Scales are highly polished. The pheremones 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]
Found in Africa, western Asia from Turkey to northwestern India, on Socotra Island, 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]
Occur in a wide variety of habitats from arid areas to rainforest and are known to occur near ant and termite nests.
Their diet consists mostly of termites or ants, their larvae and pupae. Most species suck out the contents of insect bodies and discard the skin.
| Genus[2] | Taxon author[2] | Species[2] | Common name | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeptotyphlopsT | Fitzinger, 1843 | 86 | Slender blind snakes, thread snakes[2] | Africa, southwestern Asia, on Socotra Island, from the southwestern United States south through Mexico, Central America and South America as far as Uruguay and Argentina. In the Caribbean they are found on the Bahamas (San Salvador Island), the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Hispaniola and the Lesser Antilles. |
| Rhinoleptus | Orejas-Miranda, Roux-Estève and Guibé, 1970 | 1 | Villiers' blind snake[3] | West Africa: Senegal and Guinea. |
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