Malcolm's worm snake

Malcolm's worm snake (Indotyphlops malcolmi) is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Etymology

The specific name, malcolmi, is in honor of British herpetologist Malcolm Arthur Smith.

Description

Indotyphlops malcolmi is bicolored: it is brown dorsally, and cream-colored ventrally. It has 20 scales around the body, and the scales in the vertebral row number 261–273.

Geographic range

Indotyphlops malcolmi is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Indotyphlops malcolmi is forest, at elevations from sea level to , but it is also found in sand dunes and disturbed areas such as gardens, plantations, and other forms of agriculture.

Behavior

Indotyphlops malcolmi is terrestrial and fossorial.

Reproduction

Indotyphlops malcolmi is oviparous.

References

Further reading

• Hedges SB, , , , (2014). "A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata)". Caribbean Herpetology (49): 1–61. (Indotyphlops malcolmi, new combination).
• Taylor EH (1947). "Comments on Ceylonese Snakes of the Genus Typhlops with Descriptions of New Species". University of Kansas Science Bulletin 31 (13): 283–298. (Typhlops malcolmi, new species, pp. 291–292).
• Taylor EH (1950). "The Snakes of Ceylon". Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 33 (14): 519–603. (Typhlops malcolmi, p. 527).