Leptotyphlops bilineata
Encyclopedia
The Two-Lined Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops bilineatus) is a harmless blind snake
species
endemic to Martinique
in the Lesser Antilles
.
, specimens identified to those islands were described in 2008 as separate species, L. breuili and L. carlae
. A specimen identified as from Guadeloupe
was reported by Duméril and Bibron (1844:331), but none are known from that island. The type locality given is "Vaterland Martinique."
if the lead were removed. Its typical length is 11 cm (4.5 in). However, the newly described L. carlae
(Hedges, 2008) is reported to be even smaller.
Leptotyphlopidae
The Leptotyphlopidae are a family of snakes found in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. All are fossorial and adapted to burrowing, feeding on ants and termites...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
endemic to Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
in the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
.
Distribution
Though previously recorded on St. Lucia and BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, specimens identified to those islands were described in 2008 as separate species, L. breuili and L. carlae
Leptotyphlops carlae
Barbados Threadsnake is a species of blind threadsnake. It is the smallest snake species currently known to exist. This member of the Leptotyphlopidae family is found on the Caribbean island of Barbados....
. A specimen identified as from Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
was reported by Duméril and Bibron (1844:331), but none are known from that island. The type locality given is "Vaterland Martinique."
Description
It is dark brown with two yellow stripes along its sides. It was once known as the world's smallest snake, being small enough to slither through a pencilPencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
if the lead were removed. Its typical length is 11 cm (4.5 in). However, the newly described L. carlae
Leptotyphlops carlae
Barbados Threadsnake is a species of blind threadsnake. It is the smallest snake species currently known to exist. This member of the Leptotyphlopidae family is found on the Caribbean island of Barbados....
(Hedges, 2008) is reported to be even smaller.
External links
- Leptotyphlops bilineatus at the Reptile database
- Leptotyphlops bilineatus at the Encyclopedia of LifeEncyclopedia of LifeThe Encyclopedia of Life is a free, online collaborative encyclopedia intended to document all of the 1.9 million living species known to science. It is compiled from existing databases and from contributions by experts and non-experts throughout the world...