Monday, June 1, 2009

Family Anomochilidae (Dwarf Pipe Snakes)

Order Squamata
Superfamily Xenophidia (Colubroidea Caenophidia)


Family Anomochilidae (Dwarf Pipe Snakes)


Only two species, Anomochilus leonardi and A. weberi. There is hardly anything known about theses species - only 9 specimens of both species combined have been found!

Appearance: Anatomically they are intermediate between the blind snakes (Scolecophidia) and the more "modern" snakes. Superficially they resemble Asian pipesnakes (Cylindrophiidae). Anomochilids lack both a chin groove and teeth on their pterygoid or palatine bones.

Distribution: restricted to the malayian peninsula and Indonesia

Relationships: Previously, the genus Anomochilus has been assigned to the subfamily Cylindrophiinae of the family Uropeltidae.

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