Ramphotyphlops

Ramphotyphlops
Brahminy blindsnake, R. braminus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Typhlopidae
Genus: Ramphotyphlops
Fitzinger, 1843
Synonyms
  • Typhlina - Wagler, 1930
  • Ramphotyphlops - Fitzinger, 1843
  • Pseudotyphlops - Fitzinger, 1843
  • Pilidion - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
  • Typhlinalis - Gray, 1845
  • Typhlira - Jan, 1861[1]
Common names: long tailed blindsnakes, long-tailed blind snakes,worm snakes.[2]

Ramphotyphlops is a genus of non-venomous blind snakes found in southern and southeast Asia and Australia, with one species inhabiting the Americas, as well as many islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. They occur in a wide variety of habitats. Currently, 49 species are recognized.[2]

Contents

Description

Growing to 50–750 mm in length, these snakes come 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 in with the body of the snake.

Habitat

These snakes can be found in ant and termite nests as well as under fallen leaves and holes in logs.

Feeding

They are believed to feed on earth worms as well as the larvae and eggs of ants and termites.

Reproduction

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 (Peters, 1877) 0 Palau blind snake
R. affinis (Boulenger, 1889) 0
R. albiceps (Boulenger, 1898) 0
R. angusticeps (Peters, 1877) 0
R. australis (Gray, 1845) 0 Southern blindsnake Southwest Australia [3]
R. batillus (Waite, 1894) 0
R. bituberculatus (Peters, 1863) 0
R. braminus (Daudin, 1803) 0 Brahminy blind snake
R. broomi (Boulenger, 1898) 0
R. centralis Storr, 1984 0
R. chamodracaena Ingram & Covacevich, 1993 0
R. cumingii (Gray, 1845) 0
R. depressus (Peters, 1880) 0
R. diversus (Waite, 1894) 0
R. endoterus (Waite, 1918) 0
R. erycinus (Werner, 1901) 0
R. exocoeti (Boulenger, 1887) 0 Christmas Island blind snake
R. flaviventer (Peters, 1864) 0
R. grypus (Waite, 1918) 0
R. guentheri (Peters, 1865) 0
R. hamatus Storr, 1981 0
R. howi Storr, 1983 0
R. kimberleyensis Storr, 1981 0
R. leptosomus Robb, 1972 0
R. leucoproctus (Boulenger, 1889) 0
R. ligatus (Peters, 1879) 0
R. lineatus (Schlegel, 1839) 0
R. lorenzi (Werner, 1909) 0
R. margaretae Storr, 1981 0
R. micromma Storr, 1981 0
R. minimus (Kinghorn, 1929) 0
R. multilineatusT (Schlegel, 1839) 0
R. nigrescens (Gray, 1845) 0
R. olivaceus (Gray, 1845) 0
R. pilbarensis Aplin & Donnellan, 1993 0
R. pinguis (Waite, 1897) 0 Rotund blind snake
R. polygrammicus (Schlegel, 1839) 4
R. proximus (Waite, 1893) 0
R. silvia Ingram & Covacevich, 1993 0
R. similis (Brongersma, 1934) 0
R. supranasalis (Brongersma, 1934) 0
R. tovelli (Loveridge, 1945) 0
R. troglodytes Storr, 1981 0
R. unguirostris (Peters, 1867) 0
R. waitii (Boulenger, 1895) 0
R. wiedii (Peters, 1867) 0
R. willeyi (Boulenger, 1900) 0
R. yampiensis Storr, 1981 0
R. yirrikalae (Kinghorn, 1942) 0

*) Not including the nominate subspecies.
T) Type species.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ a b c d e "Ramphotyphlops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174339. Retrieved 29 August 2007. 
  3. ^ Storr, G.M et al (1986) Snakes of Western Australia Western Australian Museum ISBN 0730903990 |p.12

External links