Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Anomochilus monticola | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Anomochilidae Rank Species | |
Similar Anomochilus, Cylindrophiidae, Uropeltidae, Anilius, Madagascar ground boa | ||
Anomochilus monticola, the mountain pipe snake, or Kinabalu giant blind snake, is a species of snake in the Anomochilidae family. It is endemic to northern Borneo and only known from the Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Malaysia). It is a recently described species still known from three specimens only. It is known from altitudes of 1,450–1,513 m (4,757–4,964 ft) asl, characterized by montane forest. It presumably is fossorial.
Description
Anomochilus monticola grow to at least 509 mm (20.0 in) in snout–vent length. Head is not distinct from the stout body. The eyes are small, 1.2 mm (0.047 in) in diameter. Tail is short, just 11–13 mm (0.43–0.51 in). The body has iridescent blue black ground colour. The dorsum is largely uniform in colour, but there is a pale horn coloured transverse bar across the snout. Ventrally, there are series of large pale horn coloured blotches. Chrome orange band encircles the tail base.