Calamaria gervaisii

Calamaria gervaisii, commonly known as Gervais's worm snake and the Philippine dwarf snake, is a species of small fossorial snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the Philippines.

Calamaria gervaisii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Calamaria
Species:	C. gervaisii
Binomial name
Calamaria gervaisii A.M.C. Dumeril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854

Etymology

The specific name, gervaisii, is in honor of French zoologist Paul Gervais.^[2]

Geographic range

C. gervaisii is endemic to the Philippine Islands.^[3] Its range includes the islands of Basilan, Catanduanes, Cebu, Lubang, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay, Polillo, and Tablas.^[1]

Habitat and behavior

C. gervaisii is found from near sea level up to altitudes of 1,000 m (3,281 ft). It lives in forests and plantations, burrowing in the leaf litter and hiding under stones and fallen logs, or between the buttresses of trees.^[1]

Description

The longest specimen of C. gervaisii measured by Boulenger (1894) had a total length of 25.5 cm (10.0 in), which included a tail 2.0 cm (0.79 in) long.

Reproduction

C. gervaisii is oviparous.^[4]

Conservation status

The IUCN has listed C. gervaisii as being of "least concern" because it has a wide range, appears to be abundant with a stable population, and seems to be tolerant of disturbance to its natural habitat. No particular threats to this species have been identified.^[1]