Rhinotyphlops simoni
| Rhinotyphlops simoni | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Typhlopidae |
| Genus: | Rhinotyphlops |
| Species: | R. simoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhinotyphlops simoni (Boettger, 1879) | |
| Synonyms | |
- Common names: (none).
Rhinotyphlops simoni is a blind snake species endemic to the Middle East. No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]
Etymology
The specific name, simoni, is in honor of German entomologist Hans Simon from Stuttgart.
Geographic range
Rhinotyphlops simoni is found in Israel, Jordan and Syria. The type locality given is "Haiffa, Syriae" (Syria). Mertens (1967) corrected this to Haiffa (Israel).[1]
Description
Flesh-colored. Total length about 20 cm (about 8 inches).[3]
Scales arranged in 20 rows around the body. Snout very prominent, pointed, with sharp cutting edge, below which are located the nostrils. Head shields granulated. Rostral very larger, both the portion visible from above and the portion visible from below longer than broad. Nasal cleft extending from the first upper labial to the nostril, which is close to the rostral. Preocular as large as the ocular, but much smaller than the nasal, in contact with the second and third upper labials. Eye not distinguishable. Prefrontal and supraoculars larger than the body scales. Four upper labials. Diameter of body 57 to 60 times in the total length. Tail slightly longer than broad, without a terminal spine.[4]
Habitat
It prefers subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.
Conservation status
This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).[5] Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. Year assessed: 2005.[6]
Cited references
- 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ↑ "Rhinotyphlops simoni". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
- ↑ Boettger, 1879.
- ↑ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families Typhlopidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. p. 51.
- ↑ Rhinotyphlops simonii at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 29 August 2007.
- ↑ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 29 August 2007.
Further reading
- Boettger, O. 1879. Vorträge und Abhandlungen: Reptilien und Amphibien aus Syrien. Bericht über die Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Frankfurt am Main 1879:57-84.
External links
- Rhinotyphlops simonii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 August 2007.