Kingdom Animalia Family Xenotyphlopidae Phylum Chordata Rank Genus | Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Xenotyphlops Higher classification Xenotyphlopidae Order Scaled reptiles | |
Similar Scaled reptiles, Anomalepididae, Rhinotyphlops, Xenophidion, Typhlopidae | ||
Xenotyphlops is a genus of snakes, the only genus of the family Xenotyphlopidae, comprising two species. They are found in Madagascar.
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Physical characteristics
Members of the genus Xenotyphlops are distinguishable externally from the Typhlopidae by possessing a greatly enlarged and nearly circular rostral shield. This shield is nearly vertical in a lateral aspect, as a result the two species have a "bull-dozer" appearance. Xenotyphlops species are internally unique in that (1) they lack a tracheal lung and (2) possess an unexpanded tracheal membrane.
Geographic range
Snakes of the genus Xenotyphlops are endemic to the island of Madagascar. For over 100 years the genus was known only from the type locality, which was "Madagascar", and only from the type specimens.
Species
Etymology
The specific name, grandidieri, is in honor of French naturalist Alfred Grandidier.
The specific name, mocquardi, is in honor of French herpetologist François Mocquard.
Taxonomy
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.