Xenotyphlops

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Xenotyphlops
Systematics
Order : Scale reptiles (Squamata)
without rank: Toxicofera
Subordination : Snakes (serpentes)
Superfamily : Blind snake-like (Typhlopoidea)
Family : Xenotyphlopidae
Genre : Xenotyphlops
Scientific name of the  family
Xenotyphlopidae
Vidal , Wynn , Donnellan & Hedges , 2010
Scientific name of the  genus
Xenotyphlops
Wallach & Ineich , 1996

Xenotyphlops is a species of snake with few species from the superfamily of blind snakes (Typhlopoidea). The genus was described in 1996 by Wallach & Ineich . Nicolas Vidal and colleagues placed the genus in the monogeneric family Xenotyphlopidaein 2010. The two Xenotyphlops species occur in Madagascar .

features

Like all blind snake species , the Xenotyphlops species are small worm-like snakes 15 to 30 centimeters in length that live underground. They are pigmentless and their bodies have the same diameter over their entire length. They differ from the blind snakes by an almost circular and greatly enlarged rostral shield , which is almost vertical when viewed from the side, as well as a single, enlarged anal scutum . Visible eyes are missing, as is the vorocularia, a scale in front of the eye. Among all blind snake species, Xenotyphlops is the only genus missing the tracheal lung . Another feature is the large gap between the heart and the one-piece liver.

Systematics

Blind snake cladogram
  Scolecophidia  

 American blind snakes (Anomalepidae)


   

 Slender blind snakes (Leptotyphlopidae)


   

 Gerrhopilidae


   

 Xenotyphlopidae


   

 Blind snakes (Typhlopidae)






The Xenotyphlopidae are the sister group of the blind snakes (Typhlopidae).

Only two types are known:

literature

  • Vidal, Marin, Morini, Donnellan, Branch, Richard Thomas, Vences, Wynn, Cruaud & Hedges, 2010: Blindsnake evolutionary tree reveals long history on Gondwana. Biology Letters, vol. 6, n. 4, p. 558-561, doi : 10.1098 / rsbl.2010.0220

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Xenotyphlops grandidieri in The Reptile Database Section Comment, Definition of the genus.

Web links