- Source: Xenotyphlops grandidieri
Xenotyphlops grandidieri is a species of blind snake in the family Xenotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Taxonomy
In addition to having no subspecies, X. grandidieri is the only species in the genus Xenotyphlops, which is the only genus in the family Xenotyphlopidae. Therefore, X. grandidieri is a monotypic species in a monotypic genus in a monotypic family.
Etymology
The specific name, grandidieri, is in honor of French naturalist Alfred Grandidier.
Geographic range
X. grandidieri is found in northern Madagascar.
For over 100 years X. grandidieri was known only from the type specimens and the vague type locality "Madagascar".
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of X. grandidieri is shrubland or forest on sand dunes or with sandy soil, at altitudes from sea level to 50 m (160 ft).
Reproduction
X. grandidieri is oviparous.
References
Further reading
Glaw F, Vences M (2006). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. ISBN 978-3929449-03-7.
Mocquard F (1905). "Note préliminaire sur une collection de Reptiles et de Batraciens offerte au Muséum par M. Maurice de Rothschild ". Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 11 (5): 285–288. ("Typhlops Grandidieri ", new species, p. 287). (in French).
Wegener JE, Swoboda S, Hawlitschek O, Franzen M, Wallach V, Vences M, Nagy ZT, Hedges SB, Köhler J, Glaw F (2013). "Morphological variation and taxonomic reassessment of the endemic Malagasy blind snake family Xenotyphlopidae (Serpentes, Scolecophidia)". Spixiana 36 (2): 269–282.
Wallach V, Ineich I (1996). "Redescription of a rare Malagasy blind snake, Typhlops grandidieri Mocquard, with placement in a new genus (Serpentes: Typhlopidae)". Journal of Herpetology 30 (3): 367–376. (Xenotyphlops, new genus; Xenotyphlops grandidieri, new combination).