Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
INFRAORDER SCOLECOPHIDIA - BLIND SNAKES
Six Paraguayan species in this Infraorder are shared between three families. The families are separable largely on the basis of skeletal morphology and dental arrangement.
FAMILY ANOMALEPIDIDAE
Two Paraguayan species in the genus Liotyphlops. They have a transverse maxilla that is movable and toothed. Dentary has 1 or 2 teeth. Tracheal lung is present and right lung is elongate. Left lung is vestigial or absent. Ectopterygoid bone present and articulates with the maxilla. Circumorbital bones are also present. Nasal glands exposed and not covered by frontal. No vestige of pelvic girdle. Oviducts paired or, in some cases the left is vestigial or absent. Oviparous.
FAMILY LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE
Three Paraguayan species in the genus Leptotyphlops. Maxilla in normal, longitudinal position. Teeth are present on the dentary only, none on the maxilla or any upper jaw element. Maxilla and upper jaw bones are immovable. Mandibular bones movably articulated. Pelvic girdle is vestigial. No tracheal lung, the right lung is developed and there is no vestige of a left lung. Female has a right oviduct only. Oviparous.
FAMILY TYPHLOPIDAE
One species in the genus Typhlops. They have a transverse maxilla that is movable and toothed. Dentary is toothless, only the maxillary bears teeth. Tracheal lung is present and right lung is elongate. Left lung is vestigial or absent. No ectopterygoid bone or circumorbital bones present. Nasal and pre-frontal bones fused. Nasal gland covered by pre-frontal. Vestigial pelvic girdle present internally. Oviparous.
REFERENCES
Fouquette MJ (unpublished) - Synopsis of Recent Reptiles to Genus - Arizona University
Whitfield P Ed.1984 - Longman Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia - Guild Publishing, London.
