The Leptotyphlopidae (commonly called slender blind snakes or thread snakes) are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

snake Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...

s found in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

. All are

fossorial A fossorial () animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily, but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, meerkats, and mole salamanders, as well as many beetles, wasps, and bees. Prehistoric eviden ...

and adapted to burrowing, feeding on ants and termites. Two

subfamilies In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

are recognized.

Description

Relatively small snakes, leptotyphlopids rarely exceed in length; only ''

Trilepida macrolepis The big-scaled blind snake (''Trilepida macrolepis'') is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Central America and northern South America. Taxonomy ''T. macrolepis'' is the type species of the genu ...

'' and ''

Leptotyphlops occidentalis ''Namibiana occidentalis'', also known as the western threadsnake or western worm snake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae The Leptotyphlopidae (commonly called slender blind snakes or thread snakes) are a family of snakes f ...

'' grow larger. The cranium and upper jaws are immobile and no teeth are in the upper jaw. The lower jaw consists of a much elongated quadrate bone, a tiny compound bone, and a relatively larger dentary bone. The body is cylindrical with a blunt head and a short tail. The scales are highly polished. The pheromones they produce protect them from attack by termites.''Field Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa'' - Bill Branch (Struik 1988) Among these snakes is what is believed to be the world's smallest: '' L. carlae'' ( Hedges, 2008). Hedges SB (2008). "At the lower size limit in snakes: two new species of threadsnakes (Squamata, Leptotyphlopidae, ''Leptotyphlops'') from the Lesser Antilles". ''Zootaxa'' 1841: 1-3
PDF
a
Zootaxa
Accessed 28 July 2008.

Geographic range

Leptotyphlopids are found in Africa, western Asia from

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

to eastern

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, on

Socotra Island Socotra or Soqotra (; ar, سُقُطْرَىٰ ; so, Suqadara) is an island of the Republic of Yemen in the Indian Ocean, under the ''de facto'' control of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, a secessionist participant in Yemen� ...

, and from the southwestern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

south through

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

and

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

to South America, though not in the high

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

. In Pacific South America, they occur as far south as southern coastal

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

, and on the Atlantic side as far as

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

and

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. In the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

, they are found on the

Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...

Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ; es, La Española; Latin and french: Hispaniola; ht, Ispayola; tnq, Ayiti or Quisqueya) is an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Greater Antilles. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and th ...

, and the

Lesser Antilles The Lesser Antilles ( es, link=no, Antillas Menores; french: link=no, Petites Antilles; pap, Antias Menor; nl, Kleine Antillen) are a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. Most of them are part of a long, partially volcanic island arc betwe ...

Habitat

Leptotyphlopids occur in a wide variety of

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s from arid areas to rainforest, and are known to occur near ant and termite nests.

Feeding

The diets of leptotyphlopids consist mostly of termite or ant

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

pupa A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their ...

e, and adults. Most species suck out the contents of insect bodies and discard the exoskeleton.

Reproduction

Snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae are

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...

Taxonomy

* Subfamily ''

Leptotyphlopinae Leptotyphlopinae (commonly called slender blind snakes or threadsnakes) are a subfamily of snakes found in equatorial Africa." ''Leptotyphlopinae'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. Taxonomy * Genus ''Epacrophis'' edges, Adalst ...

'' ** Genus ''

Epacrophis ''Epacrophis'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. All of the species were previously placed in the genus ''Leptotyphlops ''Leptotyphlops'' is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes and ...

'' Hedges, Adalsteinsson &

Branch A branch, sometimes called a ramus in botany, is a woody structural member connected to the central trunk (botany), trunk of a tree (or sometimes a shrub). Large branches are known as boughs and small branches are known as twigs. The term '' ...

, 2009 (3 species) ** Genus ''

Leptotyphlops ''Leptotyphlops'' is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes and threadsnakes, in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The genus is endemic to and found throughout Africa. Eleven species have been moved to the genus ...

'' Fitzinger, 1843 (21 species) ** Genus '' Myriopholis'' Hedges, Adalsteinsson & Branch, 2009 (23 species) ** Genus ''

Namibiana ''Namibiana'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. All of the species were previously placed in the genus ''Leptotyphlops ''Leptotyphlops'' is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes and t ...

'' Hedges, Adalsteinsson & Branch, 2009 (5 species) * Subfamily ''

Epictinae Epictinae (commonly called slender blind snakes or threadsnakes) are a subfamily of snakes found in the New World and equatorial Africa. Members of this subfamily tend to have short, thick tails, and the fewest subcaudal scales. It comprises t ...

'' ** Tribe Epictini, New World snakes *** Subtribe Epictina **** Epictia tenella

Genus ''

Epictia ''Epictia'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The genus is native to South America, Central America, and Mexico. Taxonomy Prior to 2009 all species of ''Epictia'' were placed in the genus ''Leptotyphlops''. Species The genus ...

Gray Grey (more common in British English) or gray (more common in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning literally that it is "without color", because it can be composed o ...

, 1845 (44 species) **** Genus ''

Habrophallos The collared blind snake (''Habrophallos collaris'') is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. It was previously placed in the genus Leptotyphlops and then Epictia, until in 2019 a phylogenetic analysis found it couldn't be placed in ...

'' Martins, Koch,

Pinto Pinto is a Portuguese language, Portuguese, Spanish language, Spanish, Sephardi Jews, Jewish (Sephardic), and Italian language, Italian surname. It is a high-frequency surname in all List of countries and territories where Portuguese is an officia ...

Folly In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose, or of such extravagant appearance that it transcends the range of usual garden buildings. Eighteenth-cent ...

Fouquet Fouquet (Foucquet) is a French surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernard Foucquet, sculptor active in Sweden * Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, duc de Belle-Isle (1684–1761), French general and statesman * Christophe Fouquet ...

& Passos, 2020 (

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

, collared blind snake) **** Genus ''

Siagonodon ''Siagonodon'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The genus contains four species, all of which were previously placed in the genus ''Leptotyphlops''. Species The genus ''Siagonodon'' contains the following species. www.reptile ...

'' W. Peters, 1881 (4 species) *** Subtribe Renina **** Genus '' Rena'' Baird & Girard, 1853 (10 species) **** Genus ''

Trilepida ''Trilepida'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. Geographic range Species in the genus ''Trilepida'' are native to northern South America and Panama. Taxonomy All of the species in the genus ''Trilepida'' were previously place ...

'' Hedges, 2011 (14 species) *** Subtribe Tetracheilostomina **** Genus ''

Mitophis ''Mitophis'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. All of the species were previously placed in the genus ''Leptotyphlops''. All members of this genus are endemic to the island of Hispaniola (in the Dominican Republic The ...

'' Hedges, Adalsteinsson & Branch, 2009 (4 species) **** Genus ''

Tetracheilostoma ''Tetracheilostoma'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. All of the species were previously placed in the genus ''Leptotyphlops ''Leptotyphlops'' is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes ...

Jan Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Num ...

, 1861 (3 species) ** Tribe Rhinoleptini, African snakes *** Genus ''

Tricheilostoma ''Tricheilostoma'' is a genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. All of the species were previously placed in the genus ''Leptotyphlops ''Leptotyphlops'' is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes ...

'' Jan, 1860 (5 species) *** Genus ''

Rhinoleptus ''Rhinoleptus koniagui'', also known commonly as Villiers's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species, which is indigenous to West Africa, is monotypic in the genus ''Rhinoleptus''. It is among the smallest ...

'' Orejas-Miranda, Roux-Estève & Guibé, 1970 (monotypic, Villiers's blind snake) *** Genus ''

Rhinoguinea ''Rhinoguinea'' is a monotypic genus of snakes in the family Leptotyphlopidae. It contains one species, ''Rhinoguinea magna''. It is endemic to southern Mali Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄 ...

'' J.-F. Trape, 2014 (monotypic, ''Rhinoguinea magna'')

Gallery

File:Leptotyphlops nigricans.jpg, ''Leptotyphlops''

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

; Black thread snake ( ''L. nigricans'') File:Myriopholis longicauda.jpg, ''Myriopholis'' type species; Long-tailed thread snake ('' M. longicauda'') File:Namibiana occidentalis.jpg, ''Namibiana'' type species; Western thread snake ('' N. occidentalis'') File:Habrophallos collaris.jpg, ''Habrophallos'' type species; Collared blind snake ( ''H. collaris'') File:Rena humilis in hand.jpg, ''Rena'' type species; Western blind snake ( ''R. humilis'') File:Leptotyphlops macrolepis.jpg, ''Trilepida'' type species; Big-scaled blind snake ( ''T. macrolepis'')

References

External links

*
iNaturalist page
{{Taxonbar, from=Q339827 Snake families Taxa named by Leonhard Stejneger