Family TYPHLOPIDAE Merrem, 1820

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Introduction

A family of worm-like burrowing snakes containing about 150 species in two genera; 1 genus and 43 species are currently recognised from Australia.

 

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

TYPHLOPIDAE: Anilios polygrammicus (Schlegel, 1839) [replaced in Australia by A. torresianus] — Pyron, R.A. & Wallach, V. 2014. Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Zootaxa 3829: 1-81 [61]

TYPHLOPIDAE: Typhlops Oppel, 1811 — Wallach, V. 2003. Scolecophidia miscellanea. Hamadryad 27(2): 222-240 (removal of Typhlops exocoeti to Ramphotyphlops Oppel, 1811 removed this name from the Australian list)

 

Diagnosis

Characterised in Australia by: fewer than 40 subequal scales around the middle of the body; eyes vestigial, reduced to pigmented spots below the head scales; tail very short, terminating in a blunt spine; dentititon reduced and lacking venom glands.

 

General References

Cogger, H.G. 1979. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed 608 pp.

Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney : Reed New Holland 6th edition, 808 pp.

Cogger, H.G. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO publishing 7th edition, pp. xxx+1033.

Ehmann, H. & Bamford, M.J. 1993. Family Typhlopidae. pp. 280-283 in Glasby, C.J., Ross, G.J.B. & Beesley, P.L. (eds). Fauna of Australia: Amphibia and Reptilia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 2A vii 439 pp.

Greer, A.E. 1998. The Biology and Evolution of Australian Snakes. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons pp. i-xii, 1-350.

Hahn, D.E. 1980. List der rezenten Amphibien and Reptilien Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae. Das Tierreich 101: i-xii 1-93

Hedges, S.B., Marion, A.B., Lipp, K.M., Marin, J. & Vidal, N. 2014. A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata). Caribbean Herpetology 49: 1–61

Marin, J., Donnellan, S.C., Hedges, S.B., Doughty, P., Hutchinson, M.N., Cruaud, C. & Vidal, N. 2013. Tracing the history and biogeography of the Australian blindsnake radiation. Journal of Biogeography 40(5): 928–937

Marin, J., Donnellan, S.C., Hedges, S.B., Puillandre, N., Aplin, K.P., Doughty, P., Hutchinson, M.N., Couloux, A. & Vidal, N. 2013. Hidden species diversity of Australian burrowing snakes (Ramphotyphlops). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 110(2): 427–441

Pyron, R.A. & Wallach, V. 2014. Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Zootaxa 3829: 1-81

Robb, J. 1966. The structure and possible function of the cloacal pouches of male Australian typhlopids. Australian Journal of Zoology 14: 27-30 (reproductive structures)

Vidal, N., Marin, J., Morini, M., Donnellan, S.C., Branch, W.R., Thomas, R., Vences, M., Wynn, A., Cruaud, C. & Hedges, S.B. 2010. Blindsnake evolutionary tree reveals long history on Gondwana. Biology Letters 6: 558–561

Waite, E.R. 1818. Review of the Australian blind snakes. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) 1: 1-34

Worrell, E. 1970. Reptiles of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xv 169 pp.

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
07-Feb-2024	SQUAMATA	07-Feb-2024	MODIFIED
03-Feb-2023	TYPHLOPIDAE Merrem, 1820	06-Dec-2023	MODIFIED
07-Feb-2024	SERPENTES	07-Feb-2024	MODIFIED
29-Nov-2016	TYPHLOPIDAE	07-Feb-2024	MODIFIED
07-Apr-2016	TYPHLOPIDAE	07-Feb-2024	MODIFIED
21-Jul-2014	TYPHLOPIDAE	07-Feb-2024	MODIFIED	ABRS
07-Feb-2024		07-Feb-2024	MODIFIED
08-Mar-2011		08-Mar-2011	MODIFIED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)