Trinidad Blindsnakes, Amerotyphlops trinitatus Richmnond
Size. 237 mm SVL, total length 240 mm. Tail about 1.2% of SVL.
Identification. Rostral visible from above; snout projects over the mouth; nasals divided; no loreal; a single small preocular contacts upper labials 2–3; four upper labials; third and fourth labials similar in size, both taller than long; ocular scale small; dorsal scales from rostral to tail-spine number 388–389; subcaudals in 10 rows; 20 scale rows around mid-body; dorsal pattern of 11–13 dark brown stripes; the yellow head and tail spots make it difficult to distinguish one end from the other.
Similar Species: Epictia tenella has 14 scales around the body. Ameroyphlops cf. brongersmianus has a larger diameter body, the pattern is uniform, not striped, and it has a complete nasal cleft. The undescribed anomalepidid also has a yellow-tipped head and tail, but has 18 scale rows at mid-body.
Distribution. Trinidad and Tobago.
Habitat. A forest and forest-edge species likely to be found in rotting logs, leaf litter, and loose soil. This species has been listed as critically endangered because many of its known locations are under or near development projects. However, it has been recently found in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve on Tobago. It is associated with Three-lined Snake and Hex-scaled Bachia in ant and termites nest associated with decomposing logs and vegetation.
Biology. Active any time of day. The diet includes ants and termites. We observed copulation in June and one female contained seven or eight eggs.
Size. 237 mm SVL, total length 240 mm. Tail about 1.2% of SVL.
 |
| Note similarity between head and tail. |
Identification. Rostral visible from above; snout projects over the mouth; nasals divided; no loreal; a single small preocular contacts upper labials 2–3; four upper labials; third and fourth labials similar in size, both taller than long; ocular scale small; dorsal scales from rostral to tail-spine number 388–389; subcaudals in 10 rows; 20 scale rows around mid-body; dorsal pattern of 11–13 dark brown stripes; the yellow head and tail spots make it difficult to distinguish one end from the other.
Similar Species: Epictia tenella has 14 scales around the body. Ameroyphlops cf. brongersmianus has a larger diameter body, the pattern is uniform, not striped, and it has a complete nasal cleft. The undescribed anomalepidid also has a yellow-tipped head and tail, but has 18 scale rows at mid-body.
Distribution. Trinidad and Tobago.
Habitat. A forest and forest-edge species likely to be found in rotting logs, leaf litter, and loose soil. This species has been listed as critically endangered because many of its known locations are under or near development projects. However, it has been recently found in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve on Tobago. It is associated with Three-lined Snake and Hex-scaled Bachia in ant and termites nest associated with decomposing logs and vegetation.
 |
| Pair in copula. |
Biology. Active any time of day. The diet includes ants and termites. We observed copulation in June and one female contained seven or eight eggs.
No comments:
Post a Comment