Ramphotyphlops
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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 of the family Typhlopidae. Member species of the genus are native to southern Asia and southeast Asia, as well as many islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. They occur in a wide variety of habitats. Currently, 22 species are recognized as being valid.[2]

Description and ecology

Growing to 50–750 mm (2–30 in) in length, snakes of the genus Ramphotyphlops 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. acuticauda (W. Peters, 1877) 0 Palau Island blind snake Palau, Micronesia
R. adocetus Wynn, Reynolds, Buden, Falanruw & Lynch, 2012 0 Caroline Islands, Micronesia
R. angusticeps (W. Peters, 1877) 0 Arboreal blind snake Solomon Islands
R. becki (Tanner, 1948) 0 Beck's blind snake Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
R. bipartitus (Sauvage, 1879) 0 Southern New Guinea blind snake Tidore, Maluku Islands
R. conradi (Peters, 1875) 0 Conrad's worm snake Sulawesi, Indonesia
R. cumingii (Gray, 1845) 0 Cuming's blind snake Philippines
R. depressus (W. Peters, 1880) 0 Melanesia blind snake sw Pacific: Maluku; New Guinea; Bismarcks; Solomons; Fiji
R. exocoeti (Boulenger, 1887) 0 Christmas Island blind snake Christmas Island (Australia)
R. flaviventer (W. Peters, 1864) 0 Yellow-bellied blind snake Maluku; New Guinea; Fiji
R. hatmaliyeb Wynn, Reynolds, Buden, Falanruw, & Lynch, 2012 0 Caroline Islands, Micronesia
R. lineatus (Schlegel, 1839) 0 Striped blind snake, striped worm snake, lined blind snake Singapore
R. lorenzi (F. Werner, 1909) 0 Lorenz's blind snake Borneo
R. mansuetus (Barbour, 1921) 0 Small-headed blind snake Solomon Islands
R. marxi (Wallach, 1993) 0 Marx's worm snake Philippines
R.mollyozakiae (Wallach, 2020) 0 Molly Ozaki’s blind snake Thailand
R. multilineatusT (Schlegel, 1839) 0 Hook-nosed blind snake Kai Islands and Salawati, Indonesia
R. olivaceus (Gray, 1845) 0 Olive blind snake Borneo; Philippines; Sulawesi; Maluku; Solomon Islands
R. similis (Brongersma, 1934) 0 Manukwari blind snake New Guinea
R. suluensis Taylor, 1918 0 Sulu Archipelago, Philippines
R. supranasalis (Brongersma, 1934) 0 Salawati blind snake Salawati Island, Indonesia
R. willeyi (Boulenger, 1900) 0 Loyalty Islands blind snake Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia

*) 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]

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.

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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