Scientific name Typhlopidae | Superfamily Typhlopoidea Higher classification Scolecophidia | |
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Lower classifications | ||
Blind snake family typhlopidae
The Typhlopidae are a family of blind snakes. They are found mostly in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and all mainland Australia and various islands. The rostral scale overhangs the mouth to form a shovel-like burrowing structure. They live underground in burrows, and since they have no use for vision, their eyes are mostly vestigial. They have light-detecting black eye spots, and teeth occur in the upper jaw. The tail ends with a horn-like scale. Most of these species are oviparous. Currently, ten genera are recognized containing over 200 species.
Contents
Geographic range
They are found in most tropical and many subtropical regions all over the world, particularly in Africa, Asia, islands in the Pacific, tropical America, and southeastern Europe.
Genera
Former genera
Xenotyphlops, formerly classified as a Typhlopidae, is now classed as a Xenotyphlopidae.
