Re: Africa Wild Reptile Book: Snakes - Photos & Descriptions
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:34 pm
Family Leptotyphloidae
The Leptotyphlopidae (commonly called slender blind snakes or thread snakes) are a family of snakes found in North America, South America, Africa, & Asia.
These primitive snakes are the smallest in the world with a maximum recorded total length of 40 cm but more typically attaining lengths of 15-20 cm. The body is cylindrical and very thin with a blunt head and a short tail. The scales are highly polished. Like other blindsnakes, they lack enlarged belly scales and have vestigial eyes (covered by scales). The highly flexible dentaries posses four or five teeth and they don't have teeth in the upper jaw.
Thread snakes live underground and follow the chemical trails of ants to their nests. They eat soft-bodied invertebrates, and have secretions that fool termites allow them to take up residence in termite nests and eat eggs and larvae. The pheromones they produce protect them from attack by termites. Their diets consist mostly of termite or ant larvae, pupae, and adults. Most species suck out the contents of insect bodies and discard the exoskeleton.
Leptotyphlopids are oviparous, laying up to 13 eggs per clutch. Female snakes have been observed coiled around their eggs, possibly demonstrating parental care.
Peters' Thread Snake Leptotyphlops scutifrons complex
Size: 18–24 cm.
These are the most widespread thread snakes in southern Africa, extending from Tanzania to KwaZulu-Natal.
They are the most confusing thread snakes, as numerous similar-looking species are involved, many still undescribed. They can be distinguished by the short tail (19–39 subcaudal scales) and wide rostral (about a third the width of the head at eye level). The tail ends abruptly in a spine. The body is uniformly black, but may turn silvery when dry.
They are usually found under logs or stones, but may be forced to the surface after heavy rains. Lays 3–7 elongate eggs in summer.
The Leptotyphlopidae (commonly called slender blind snakes or thread snakes) are a family of snakes found in North America, South America, Africa, & Asia.
These primitive snakes are the smallest in the world with a maximum recorded total length of 40 cm but more typically attaining lengths of 15-20 cm. The body is cylindrical and very thin with a blunt head and a short tail. The scales are highly polished. Like other blindsnakes, they lack enlarged belly scales and have vestigial eyes (covered by scales). The highly flexible dentaries posses four or five teeth and they don't have teeth in the upper jaw.
Thread snakes live underground and follow the chemical trails of ants to their nests. They eat soft-bodied invertebrates, and have secretions that fool termites allow them to take up residence in termite nests and eat eggs and larvae. The pheromones they produce protect them from attack by termites. Their diets consist mostly of termite or ant larvae, pupae, and adults. Most species suck out the contents of insect bodies and discard the exoskeleton.
Leptotyphlopids are oviparous, laying up to 13 eggs per clutch. Female snakes have been observed coiled around their eggs, possibly demonstrating parental care.
Peters' Thread Snake Leptotyphlops scutifrons complex
Size: 18–24 cm.
These are the most widespread thread snakes in southern Africa, extending from Tanzania to KwaZulu-Natal.
They are the most confusing thread snakes, as numerous similar-looking species are involved, many still undescribed. They can be distinguished by the short tail (19–39 subcaudal scales) and wide rostral (about a third the width of the head at eye level). The tail ends abruptly in a spine. The body is uniformly black, but may turn silvery when dry.
They are usually found under logs or stones, but may be forced to the surface after heavy rains. Lays 3–7 elongate eggs in summer.