Mattison - Snakes

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Of the nine families grouped together in this section, three contain species that look very similar and the other six each contain only a small number of species. They are thought to have evolved very early in the history of snakes. They all have a pelvic girdle (the bone to which their hind limbs would be attached if they had them) and some have small thorn-like structures, the remains of hind limbs that have all but disappeared.

Primitive burrowing snakes (blind and thread snakes) The three families of primitive burrowing snakes are the Anomalepididae (which has no English name), the thread snakes (Leptotyphlopidae) and the blind snakes (Typhlopidae). All the 330 or so species in these families are small, from about 1095 cm in length. They have thin, cylindrical bodies, short tails and smooth, shiny scales. Their eyes are minuscule and their jaws are more rigid than in other snakes. They are found in most of the warmer parts of the world.

Primitive specialised snakes

Of the six remaining families, the sunbeam snake family (Xenopeltidae) and the dwarf pipe snakes (Anomalepidae), each contains two species and two further families contain only a single species each: these are the Central American Sunbeam Snake (Loxocemidae) and the Red Pipe Snake (Aniliidae). The shield-tailed snakes (Uropeltidae) and the pipe snakes (Cylindrophiidae) are from Asia and contain 45 and eight species, respectively.

The snakes belonging to the following two families the Wood Snakes or West Indian Boas (Tropidophiidae) and the Round Island Boas (Bolyeriidae) are not, strictly speaking, boas at all. They were classified with the boas for many years, however, and have certain similarities with them: they all have remains of hind limbs, in the form of small spurs, their heads are covered with numerous small scales, and they all constrict their prey.

The Tropidophiidae is a family of 21 species. Most are found in the West Indies, especially on the island of Cuba, but a few occur on the Central or South American mainland. They are small boa-like snakes that live secretive lives, emerging mainly at night to feed. Several species are rare; some are known from only two or three specimens.

The Bolyeriidae contains just two species, one of which, the Round Island Keeled-Scaled Boa, is probably extinct. The other species also lives on Round Island, near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, and is endangered. Much of the habitat on Round Island was destroyed after the introduction of goats and rabbits in the nineteenth century, and introduced rats preyed on the snakes eggs and young.

A slender snake with smooth scales. The predominant colour is red or orange, with widely spaced blackwhiteblack rings. The head is black, with a white collar. Juveniles are often more brightly coloured than adults. It is nervous and quick moving, although it rarely bites.

A slender snake with smooth scales and a cylindrical body. It is bright red, with narrow rings of white, bordered with black. The black areas are often wider along the middle of the back and may touch, especially towards the tail, reducing the amount of red present. The snout is black.

A. Bannister

A stocky snake with smooth, shiny scales and a narrow head. The adult is olive-green with a thin orange line running along the centre of the back. Juveniles are more brightly coloured with specks of lime-green on each scale, and the orange line is more prominent.

Chris Mattison

E. & D. Hosking

Medium-built with small, smooth scales and large eyes. It is uniform brown, reddish-brown, orange or almost black, except for a cream line that runs from the top of the snout, over each eye and onto the neck. The underside is pinkish white and highly glossy.

A slender snake with smooth scales, a broad head and large eyes, which have vertical pupils. Its body is cream or light brown and there is a series of irregular dark brown or black blotches along the back.