Levitonius Explained

Levitonius is a genus of cyclocorid snakes endemic to the Philippines. The only species in the genus is the Waray dwarf burrowing snake (Levitonius mirus).^{[1] [2]} It is native to the Samar and Leyte islands in the Philippines, where it lives among 112 other land and snake species.

Levitonus is smaller than the other Cyclocoridae, reaching only a length of 172mm. In addition, it has the smallest number of vertebrae of any snake, which is possibly related to its size. Its primary diet is earthworms.^[3]

Specimens of this genus had been collected in 2006 and 2007, and later again in 2014, but were misidentified. In 2018 a specimen of the genus was described as "Unnamed Leyte-Samar lineage". It is thought to be the most basal member of the family Cyclocoridae.^[4]

The genus is named after herpetologist Alan E. Leviton.

Notes and References

1. Weinell. Jeffrey L.. Paluh. Daniel J.. Siler. Cameron D.. Brown. Rafe M.. 23 December 2020. A New, Miniaturized Genus and Species of Snake (Cyclocoridae) from the Philippines. Copeia. 108. 4. 907–923. 10.1643/CH2020110. 0045-8511. free.
2. Web site: Remarkable new species of snake found hidden in a biodiversity collection. 2020-12-23. phys.org. en. 2020-12-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20201223170022/https://phys.org/news/2020-12-remarkable-species-snake-hidden-biodiversity.html. live.
3. Web site: Scientists Find Remarkable New Snake Species in Philippines Biology Sci-News.com. 2020-12-27. Breaking Science News Sci-News.com. en-US. 2020-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20201227031044/http://www.sci-news.com/biology/levitonius-mirus-09189.html. live.
4. Weinell. Jeffrey L.. Brown. Rafe M.. February 2018. Discovery of an old, archipelago-wide, endemic radiation of Philippine snakes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 119. 144–150. 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.11.004. 1095-9513. 29162550. free. 2020-12-23. 2021-05-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504155143/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29162550/. live.