Leptotyphlops

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Leptotyphlops
Leptotyphlops distanti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Leptotyphlopidae
Genus: Leptotyphlops
Fitzinger, 1843
Synonyms[1]

Leptotyphlops is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes and threadsnakes,[2] in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The genus is endemic to and found throughout Africa. Eleven species have been moved to the genus Trilepida, and other species have been moved to the genera Epacrophis, Epictia, Mitophis, Myriopholis, Namibiana, Rena, Siagonodon, Tetracheilostoma, and Tricheilostoma.

Description[edit]

Most species of Leptotyphlops look much like shiny earthworms. They are generally black, grey, or blackish-brown and their scales give them a segmented appearance. Their common name comes from the fact that their eyes are greatly reduced almost to the point of uselessness, and hidden behind a protective head scale. The species which are called thread snakes are so named because of their very narrow, long bodies.

Behavior[edit]

All blind snakes including those of the genus Leptotyphlops are burrowing snakes, spending most of their time deep in loose soil, typically only emerging when it rains and they get flooded out.

Diet[edit]

The primary diet of Leptotyphlops is ant and termite larvae.

Species[edit]

Common name Scientific name[2] Taxon author[2] Habitat & Range
Ethiopian worm snake Leptotyphlops aethiopicus[3] Broadley & Wallach, 2007 Habitat: Forest, grassland

Range: Ethiopia, Kenya[4]

Cape thread snake

Leptotyphlops conjunctus (Jan, 1861) Habitat: Grassland

Range: South Africa (Eastern Cape Province)[5]

Distant's thread snake

Leptotyphlops distanti (Boulenger, 1892) Habitat: Savanna, grassland

Range: Mozambique, South Africa (Limpopo Province, North-West Province, Mpumalanga, Gauteng)[6]

Emin Pasha’s worm snake Leptotyphlops emini (Boulenger, 1890) Habitat: Savanna, shrubland

Range: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia[7]

Howell’s worm snake Leptotyphlops howelli [3] Broadley & Wallach, 2007 Habitat: Forest, savanna

Range: Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania[8]

Incognito thread snake

Leptotyphlops incognitus[3] Broadley & Watson, 1976 Habitat: Savanna, grassland

Range: Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga), Zambia, Zimbabwe[9]

Jacobsen's thread snake

Leptotyphlops jacobseni [3] Broadley & S. Broadley, 1999 Habitat: Grassland

Range: South Africa (Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga)[10]

Shaba thread snake Leptotyphlops kafubi [3] (Boulenger, 1919) Habitat: Savanna, artificial / terrestrial

Range: Angola, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia[11]

Mount Kenya worm snake Leptotyphlops keniensis[3] Broadley & Wallach, 2007 Habitat: Shrubland

Range: Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania[12]

Uvira worm snake Leptotyphlops latirostris[3] (Sternfeld, 1912) Habitat: Savanna

Range: Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Republic of Tanzania[13]

Goggle-eyed worm snake

Leptotyphlops macrops Broadley & Wallach, 1996 Habitat: Forest, savanna, artificial / terrestrial

Range: Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania[14]

Mbanja worm snake Leptotyphlops mbanjensis[3] Broadley & Wallach, 2007 Habitat: Artificial / terrestrial

Range: United Republic of Tanzania[15]

Merker’s thread snake Leptotyphlops merkeri [3] (F. Werner, 1909) Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, artificial / terrestrial, introduced vegetation

Range: Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania[16]

Black thread snake

Leptotyphlops nigricansT (Schlegel, 1839) Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland

Range: South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape)[17]

Black-tip worm snake Leptotyphlops nigroterminus[3] Broadley & Wallach, 2007 Habitat: Savanna, shrubland

Range: Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania[18]

Pemba worm snake Leptotyphlops pembae[3] Loveridge, 1941 Habitat: Grassland, artificial / terrestrial

Range: Pemba Island, Tanzania[19]

Pitman’s thread snake Leptotyphlops pitmani [3] Broadley & Wallach, 2007 Habitat: Savanna

Range: Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda[20]

N/A Leptotyphlops pungwensis[3] Broadley & Wallach, 1997 Range: Mozambique[21]
Peter's thread snake

Leptotyphlops scutifrons (W. Peters, 1854) Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland

Range: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe[22]

Forest thread snake

Leptotyphlops sylvicolus[3] Broadley & Wallach, 1997 Habitat: Forest, grassland

Range: South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province)[23]

Tello's thread snake Leptotyphlops telloi Broadley & Watson, 1976 Habitat: Savanna

Range: Eswatini, Mozambique[24]

T) Type species.

References[edit]

  1. ^ McDiarmid, RW; Campbell, JA; Touré, TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Vol. 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. ISBN 1-893777-01-4.
  2. ^ a b c "Leptotyphlops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Leptotyphlops at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  4. ^ Spawls, S. (2021). "Leptotyphlops aethiopicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T21584239A21584244. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T21584239A21584244.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A.; Weeber, J.; Conradie, W.; Pietersen, D. (2022) [amended version of 2021 assessment]. "Leptotyphlops conjunctus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979732A217536604. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979732A217536604.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  6. ^ Alexander, G.J. (2022). "Leptotyphlops distanti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979746A197419772. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979746A197419772.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  7. ^ Kusamba, C. (2021). "Leptotyphlops emini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T21584272A21584290. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T21584272A21584290.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  8. ^ Beraduccii, J.; Howell, K.; Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W. (2022) [amended version of 2014 assessment]. "Leptotyphlops howelli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979760A217807449. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979760A217807449.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  9. ^ Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A. (2021). "Leptotyphlops incognitus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T44979771A120635822. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T44979771A120635822.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  10. ^ Alexander, G.J. (2022). "Leptotyphlops jacobseni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T178203A197408045. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T178203A197408045.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  11. ^ Kusamba, C.; Zassi-Boulou, A.-G. (2021). "Leptotyphlops kafubi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T44979786A44979794. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T44979786A44979794.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  12. ^ Spawls, S.; Malonza, P. (2022) [amended version of 2014 assessment]. "Leptotyphlops keniensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979800A217807566. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979800A217807566.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  13. ^ Pietersen, D.; Verburgt, L. (2021). "Leptotyphlops latirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T124313370A124313452. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T124313370A124313452.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  14. ^ Malonza, P.; Spawls, S. (2022) [amended version of 2014 assessment]. "Leptotyphlops macrops". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979811A217807671. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979811A217807671.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  15. ^ Howell, K.; Msuya, C.A.; Spawls, S. (2022) [amended version of 2014 assessment]. "Leptotyphlops mbanjensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979823A217807781. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979823A217807781.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  16. ^ Branch, W.R.; Wagner, P.; Safari, I.; Chenga, J. (2015). "Leptotyphlops merkeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T47749549A47749558. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T47749549A47749558.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  17. ^ Alexander, G.J. (2022). "Leptotyphlops nigricans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979834A197419932. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979834A197419932.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  18. ^ Spawls, S. (2021). "Leptotyphlops nigroterminus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T44979849A44979854. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T44979849A44979854.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  19. ^ Spawls, S.; Malonza, P. (2022) [amended version of 2014 assessment]. "Leptotyphlops pembae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979860A217807882. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979860A217807882.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  20. ^ Wagner, P.; Branch, W.R.; Chenga, J.; Safari, I. (2021). "Leptotyphlops pitmani". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T44979875A44979884. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T44979875A44979884.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ Tolley, K.A.; Conradie, W.; Farooq, H.; Verburgt, L.; Alexander, G.J.; Raimundo, A.; Sardinha, C.I.V. (2019). "Leptotyphlops pungwensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T44979890A44979892. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44979890A44979892.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  22. ^ Tolley, K.A.; Alexander, G.J. (2021). "Leptotyphlops scutifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T44979898A44979907. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T44979898A44979907.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  23. ^ Alexander, G.J. (2022). "Leptotyphlops sylvicolus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979913A197420058. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979913A197420058.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  24. ^ Verburgt, L.; Pietersen, D.; Alexander, G.J.; Farooq, H. (2022) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Leptotyphlops telloi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44979917A217541811. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44979917A217541811.en. Retrieved 16 April 2024.

External links[edit]

Wikispecies has information related to Leptotyphlops.
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