Biology:Levitonius
| Waray dwarf burrowing snake | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Cyclocoridae |
| Genus: | Levitonius Weinell, Paluh, Siler & Brown, 2020[2] |
| Species: | L. mirus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Levitonius mirus Weinell, Paluh, Siler & Brown, 2020[2]
| |
Levitonius is a genus of cyclocorid snakes endemic to the Philippines . The only species in the genus is the Waray dwarf burrowing snake (Levitonius mirus).[2][3] It is native to the Samar and Leyte islands in the Philippines , where it lives among 112 other land and snake species.
Levitonus is smaller than the other Cyclocoridae, reaching only a length of 172 millimetres (6.8 in).[2] In addition, it has the smallest number of vertebrae of any snake, which is possibly related to its size.[3] Its primary diet is earthworms.[4]
Specimens of this genus had been collected in 2006 and 2007, and later again in 2014, but were misidentified.[3] In 2018 a specimen of the genus was described as "Unnamed Leyte-Samar lineage". It is thought to be the most basal member of the family Cyclocoridae.[2][5]
The genus is named after herpetologist Alan E. Leviton.[2][3]
References
- ↑ Diesmos, A.C. (2022). "Levitonius mirus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T193858886A193858975. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T193858886A193858975.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193858886/193858975. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 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.
- ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Remarkable new species of snake found hidden in a biodiversity collection" (in en). https://phys.org/news/2020-12-remarkable-species-snake-hidden-biodiversity.html.
- ↑ "Scientists Find Remarkable New Snake Species in Philippines | Biology | Sci-News.com" (in en-US). http://www.sci-news.com/biology/levitonius-mirus-09189.html.
- ↑ 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29162550/.
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