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Xenotyphlops is a genus of snakes, the only genus of the family Xenotyphlopidae, comprising two species found only in Madagascar.[1] These snakes are also known as the Malagasy blind snake.[2]
| Xenotyphlops | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Infraorder: | Scolecophidia |
| Superfamily: | Typhlopoidea |
| Family: | Xenotyphlopidae Vidal, Vences, Branch & Hedges, 2010 |
| Genus: | Xenotyphlops Wallach & Ineich, 1996 |
| Species | |
|
Two species, see text | |
Xenotyphlops is an ancient group that diverged from other blind snakes during the Cretaceous, following the separation of Madagascar from India. On the newly-isolated Madagascar, the ancestral Xenotyphlopidae and Typhlopidae diverged from one another; Typhlopidae dispersed worldwide from Madagascar while leaving behind a single Malagasy genus (Madatyphlops), while the Xenotyphlopidae remained restricted to Madagascar. Xenotyphlops, Madatyphlops, and the Madagascan big-headed turtle are the only Malagasy terrestrial vertebrates whose isolation on Madagascar is due to Gondwanan vicariance.[3]
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The family Xenotyphlopidae is composed of small blind snakes.[2] These members lack cranial infrared receptors in pits or durface indentations.[2] It is thought that these snakes used to have eyes but lost use of them over time.[4] Members of the genus Xenotyphlops are distinguishable externally from the Typhlopidae by possessing a greatly enlarged and nearly circular rostral shield and a single enlarged anal shield.[2] This shield is nearly vertical in a lateral aspect; as a result, the two species have a "bulldozer" appearance. Xenotyphlops get no larger than an earthworm and have translucent pink scales.[4] Xenotyphlops species are internally unique in that they lack a tracheal lung and possess an unexpanded tracheal membrane.[5] Like many other snake families they are assumed to be oviparous.[2] Both species are completely terrestrial.[6]
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Snakes of the genus Xenotyphlops are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Xenotyphlops burrow in the softer sandy soil of Madagascar's coastline forest and shrubland.[4] For over 100 years the genus was known only from the type locality, which was "Madagascar", and only from the type specimens.[7] These snakes presumably live in colonies of subterranean social insects.[2]
According to the IUCN Red List, X. grandidieri are considered to be critically endangered and X. mocquardi are data deficient.[6] The two biggest threats to these species are Energy production (via mining/quarrying) and biological resource use (via logging and unintentional effects).[6]
- Xenotyphlops grandidieri (Mocquard, 1905)
- Xenotyphlops mocquardi Wallach, Mercurio & Andreone, 2007
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Xenotyphlops.
The specific name, grandidieri, is in honor of French naturalist Alfred Grandidier.[8]
The specific name, mocquardi, is in honor of French herpetologist François Mocquard.[8]
In 2013, after examining several newly collected specimens, Wegener et al. concluded that X. mocquardi falls within the range of variation of X. grandidieri, and they proposed that X. mocquardi be considered a synonym of X. grandidieri. This change would make Xenotyphlops a monotypic genus in a monotypic family.[9] The Xenotyphlipidae's sister taxon are the Typhlopidae.[2]
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