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.^[5]

Xenotyphlops grandidieri
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Xenotyphlopidae
Genus:	Xenotyphlops
Species:	X. grandidieri
Binomial name
Xenotyphlops grandidieri (Mocquard, 1905)[2]
Synonyms
Typhlops Grandidieri Mocquard, 1905 Typhlops grandidieri — Boulenger, 1915 Xenotyphlops grandidieri — Wallach & Ineich, 1996 Xenotyphlops mocquardi Wallach, Mercurio & Andreone, 2007[3] Xenotyphlops grandidieri — Wegener et al., 2013[4]

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.^[4]

Etymology

The specific name, grandidieri, is in honor of French naturalist Alfred Grandidier.^[6]

Geographic range

X. grandidieri is found in northern Madagascar.^[4]

For over 100 years X. grandidieri was known only from the type specimens and the vague type locality "Madagascar".^[2]

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).^[1]

Reproduction

X. grandidieri is oviparous.^[3]