Ramphotyphlops Explained

Common names: long-tailed blindsnakes, long-tailed blind snakes, worm snakes.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.

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

SpeciesTaxon author *Subsp.**Common nameGeographic range
R. acuticauda(W. Peters, 1877)0Palau Island blind snakePalau, Micronesia
R. adocetusWynn, Reynolds, Buden, Falanruw & Lynch, 20120Caroline Islands, Micronesia
R. angusticeps(W. Peters, 1877)0Arboreal blind snakeSolomon Islands
R. becki(Tanner, 1948)0Beck's blind snakeGuadalcanal, Solomon Islands
R. bipartitus(Sauvage, 1879)0Southern New Guinea blind snakeTidore, Maluku Islands
R. conradi(Peters, 1875)0Conrad's worm snakeSulawesi, Indonesia
R. cumingii(Gray, 1845)0Cuming's blind snakePhilippines
R. depressus(W. Peters, 1880)0Melanesia blind snakesw Pacific: Maluku; New Guinea; Bismarcks; Solomons; Fiji
R. exocoeti(Boulenger, 1887)0Christmas Island blind snakeChristmas Island (Australia)
R. flaviventer(W. Peters, 1864)0Yellow-bellied blind snakeMaluku; New Guinea; Fiji
R. hatmaliyebWynn, Reynolds, Buden, Falanruw, & Lynch, 20120 Caroline Islands, Micronesia
R. lineatus(Schlegel, 1839)0Striped blind snake, striped worm snake, lined blind snakeSingapore
R. lorenzi(F. Werner, 1909)0Lorenz's blind snakeBorneo
R. mansuetus(Barbour, 1921)0Small-headed blind snakeSolomon Islands
R. marxi(Wallach, 1993)0Marx's worm snakePhilippines
R.mollyozakiae(Wallach, 2020)0Molly Ozaki’s blind snakeThailand
R. multilineatusT(Schlegel, 1839)0Hook-nosed blind snakeKai Islands and Salawati, Indonesia
R. olivaceus(Gray, 1845)0Olive blind snakeBorneo; Philippines; Sulawesi; Maluku; Solomon Islands
R. similis(Brongersma, 1934)0Manukwari blind snakeNew Guinea
R. suluensisTaylor, 19180Sulu Archipelago, Philippines
R. supranasalis(Brongersma, 1934)0Salawati blind snakeSalawati Island, Indonesia
R. willeyi(Boulenger, 1900)0Loyalty Islands blind snakeLoyalty Islands, New Caledonia
T) Type species.

Further reading

External links