Range: Socotra, Yemen

 

The Socotra Island blindsnake is an endemic to the island of its name, though potentially found throughout the various habitats of the island in appropriate conditions. It is described primarily from a handful of specimens collected in the late 1800’s. Length is up to 18.2 cm, with an extremely slender build (body diameter at most 0.5 cm) and an ovular head barely broader than the neck with a notably curved, beak-like rostral scale, and a short, spine-tipped tail. Scale row count midbody is 14, dorsal scale count 529 on average. Coloration is difficult to determine from the handful of collected specimens, but likely light pink or tan uniformly. This species can be distinguished from the other 1, maybe 2 species on the island by the presence of a large and distinctly hooked or curved rostral scale, and more slender overall build.

 

Habitat: Moist micro-locales within desert valleys or plateaus, between 100-800 meters in elevation.

 

Prey: Unknown, likely small, soft-bodied invertebrates.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: lifespan unknown, likely under 7 years. Oviparous.

 

Sources: https://www.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_05/Myriopholis-filiformis-03000035266_01.jpg

http://www.seaturtle.org/PDF/RoslerH_2006_InHerpetologiaBonnensisIIProceedingso_p125-128.pdf

https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Myriopholis&species=filiformis