Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Typhlops cariei Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Typhlopidae Higher classification Typhlops | |
Similar Reptile, Typhlops, Snake, Typhlops wilsoni | ||
Typhlops cariei commonly known as Hoffstetter's worm snake is an extinct blind snake species which was endemic to Mauritius. It is named for Paul Carié (1876–1930), an amateur naturalist attached to the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, who made excavations in Mare aux Songes around 1900 where the remains of this species were discovered.
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Description
Typhlops cariei is known only from seven fossil vertebrae from the middle region of the trunk, including two sets of connected vertebra and one isolated vertebra. With an estimated length of more than 200 mm it was significantly larger than Ramphotyphlops braminus, a blind snake which still occurs on Mauritius. T. cariei was also distinct by various characters of the vertebral morphology.
Extinction
This species was classified as extinct in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1994. It disappeared apparently in the 17th century following the introduction of predatory species to Mauritius.