Typhlophis

Typhlophis is a monotypic genus created for the blind snake species, Typhlophis squamosus, found along the Atlantic coast of South America from the Guianas to Pará in Brazil, as well as in Trinidad. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[3]

Typhlophis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Anomalepididae
Genus:	Typhlophis Fitzinger, 1843
Species:	T. squamosus
Binomial name
Typhlophis squamosus (Schlegel, 1839)
Synonyms
Typhlophis Fitzinger, 1843 Cephalolepis A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Typhlops squamosus Schlegel, 1839 Cephalolepis leucocephalus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Typhlops squammosus [sic] A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 (ex errore) Anilios (?) squamosus — Gray, 1845 Cephalolepis squamosus — Jan & Sordelli, 1860 Typhlophis squamosus — Boulenger, 1893[1] Typhlophis ayarzaguenai Señaris, 1998 Typhlophis squamosus McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré, 1999[2]

Common names: (none).

Geographic range

Typhlophis squamosus is found in the Atlantic coastal lowlands of South America in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana as far south as the state of Pará in Brazil. It is also found on the island of Trinidad. The type locality given is "Cayenne" (French Guiana).^[1]

Description

The head of T. squamosus is covered with small scales, which are indistinguishable from the body scales.^[4]

Etymology

The synonym, Typhlophis ayarzaguenai, was named in honor of Venezuelan herpetologist José Ayarzagüena.^[5]