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]

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References
  1. 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. "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).
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