Levitonius
Levitonius is a genus of lamprophiid snakes endemic to the Philippines. The only species in the genus is the Waray dwarf burrowing snake (Levitonius mirus).[1][2] It is native to the Samar and Leyte is lands in the Philippines, where it lives among 112 other land and snake species.
| Waray dwarf burrowing snake | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Lamprophiidae |
| Subfamily: | Cyclocorinae |
| Genus: | Levitonius Weinell, 2020[1] |
| Species: | L. mirus |
| Binomial name | |
| Levitonius mirus Weinell, 2020[1] | |
descripsion
Levitonus is smaller than the other Cyclocorinae, reaching only a length of 172 millimetres (6.8 in).[1] In addition, it has the smallest number of vertebrae of any snake, which is possibly related to its size.[2] Its primary diet is earthworms.[3]
Specimens of this genus had been collected in 2006 and 2007, and later again in 2014, but were misidentified.[2] In 2018 a specimen of the genus was described as 'Unnamed Leyte-Samar lineage'.[1][4]
The genus is named after herpetologist Alan E. Leviton.[1][2]
References
- Weinell, Jeffrey L.; Paluh, Daniel J.; Siler, Cameron D.; Brown, Rafe M. (23 December 2020). "A New, Miniaturized Genus and Species of Snake (Cyclocoridae) from the Philippines". Copeia. 108 (4): 907–923. doi:10.1643/CH2020110. ISSN 0045-8511.
- "Remarkable new species of snake found hidden in a biodiversity collection". phys.org. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
- "Scientists Find Remarkable New Snake Species in Philippines | Biology | Sci-News.com". Breaking Science News | Sci-News.com. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
- Weinell, Jeffrey L.; Brown, Rafe M. (February 2018). "Discovery of an old, archipelago-wide, endemic radiation of Philippine snakes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 119: 144–150. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.11.004. ISSN 1095-9513. PMID 29162550.