Ramphotyphlops

Ramphotyphlops
Brahminy blindsnake, R. braminus
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]

Ramphotyphlops is a genus of nonvenomous 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, making this the most second most diverse genus in the family Typhlopidae.[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 blind snake
R. affinis (Boulenger, 1889) 0
R. albiceps (Boulenger, 1898) 0
R. angusticeps (W. Peters, 1877) 0
R. australis (Gray, 1845) 0 Southern blindsnake Southwest Australia [3]
R. batillus (Waite, 1894) 0
R. bituberculatus (W. 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 (W. Peters, 1880) 0
R. diversus (Waite, 1894) 0
R. endoterus (Waite, 1918) 0
R. erycinus (F. Werner, 1901) 0
R. exocoeti (Boulenger, 1887) 0 Christmas Island blind snake
R. flaviventer (W. Peters, 1864) 0
R. grypus (Waite, 1918) 0
R. guentheri (W. 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 (W. Peters, 1879) 0
R. lineatus (Schlegel, 1839) 0
R. longissimus (Aplin, 1998) 0 Barrow Island (Western Australia)
R. lorenzi (F. 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 (W. Peters, 1867) 0
R. waitii (Boulenger, 1895) 0
R. wiedii (W. Peters, 1867) 0
R. willeyi (Boulenger, 1900) 0
R. yampiensis Storr, 1981 0
R. yirrikalae (Kinghorn, 1942) 0

*) 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]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 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).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ramphotyphlops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  3. ↑ Storr GM, Smith LA, Johnstone RE (1986). Snakes of Western Australia. Perth: Western Australian Museum. 187 pp. ISBN 0-7309-0399-0. (Ramphotyphlops, p. 12).

Further reading

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