McDowell's blind snake

McDowell's blind snake (Gerrhopilus mcdowelli) is a species of snake in the family Gerrhopilidae.^[3][4]

McDowell's blind snake
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Gerrhopilidae
Genus:	Gerrhopilus
Species:	G. mcdowelli
Binomial name
Gerrhopilus mcdowelli (Wallach, 1996)
Synonyms[2]
Typhlops mcdowelli Wallach, 1996 Gerrhopilus mcdowelli — Vidal et al., 2010

Etymology

The specific name, mcdowelli, is in honor of American herpetologist Samuel Booker McDowell Jr.^[5]

Geographic range

Gerrhopilus mcdowelli is endemic to Papua New Guinea.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Gerrhopilus mcdowelli is forest, at altitudes of 50–600 m (160–1,970 ft).^[1]

Behavior

Gerrhopilus mcdowelli is terrestrial and fossorial.^[1]

Diet

Gerrhopilus mcdowelli preys upon larvae and adults of ants and termites.^[1]

Reproduction

Gerrhopilus mcdowelli is oviparous.^[2]