Order Squamata
Suborder Ophidia (Serpentes)
Infraorder Typhlopoidea (Scolecophidia)

Family Leptotyphlopidae (Slender Blind Snakes)

Leptrotyphlops septemstriatus © Laurie J. Vitt.

Appearance: Slender Blind Snakes are relatively small snakes that rarely exceed 30 cm in length ( Leptotyphlops macrolepis and L. occidentalis being the exceptions). The cranium and upper jaws (maxillae, palatines, and pterygoids) of leptotyphlopids are immobile and teeth are present only on the dentary bone. The lower jaw consists of an enormous, horizontally displaced qudrate, a tiny compund bone, and relatively larger dentary, angular, splenial, and coronoid (Pough et al. 1997). Distribution: Tropical America (including two species in the SW-USA), the Caribbean, and Africa with two species reaching east to Pakistan and India (Leptotyphlops blanfordi and L. macrorhynchus). Habitat: soil Behaviour: mainly burrowing Reproduction: oviparous (egg-laying)

Contributing/Consulting expert: Van Wallach (Harvard University, Cambridge, USA).

List of Genera:

1. Leptotyphlops
2. Rhinoleptus

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References:

Gruber,U. in:
Klemmer,K., Wermuth,H. & Hediger,H., eds. (1979-1993)
Grzimeks Tierleben, Bd. 6: Kriechtiere
Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag
ISBN 3-423-05970-2
p. 362-364

Hahn-D-E 1979
Leptotyphlopidae Stejneger. Slender blind snakes.
Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles No. 230 1979: 1-4

HAHN,D.E. (1980)
Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien. Anomalepidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae.
Das Tierreich, De Gruyter (Berlin) 101: 65 pp.

Welch,KRG (1994)
Snakes of the World - A Checklist. 2. Boas, Pythons, Shield-tails and Worm Snakes.
R & A Research and Information Limited/KCM Books, "89" pp.

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