The Santander blind snake (Trilepida nicefori) is a species of snake in the subfamily Epictinae of the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to Colombia.
Etymology
The specific name, nicefori, is in honor of missionary (1888âÂÂ1980), born Antoine Rouhaire in France, who established a natural history museum in MedellÃÂn, Colombia.
Geographic distribution
Trilepida nicefori is known only from Santander Department, Colombia.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Trilepida nicefori is forest, at elevations of .
Description
Trilepida nicefori is a very small snake. Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of . It is uniform brown dorsally, and beige ventrally.
Behavior
Trilepida nicefori is terrestrial and fossorial.
Diet
Trilepida nicefori preys upon termites and also eats insect larvae.
Reproduction
Trilepida nicefori is oviparous.
References
Further reading
- , Branch WR, Trape S, , Hedges SB (2009). "Molecular phylogeny, classification, and biogeography of snakes of the family Leptotyphlopidae (Reptilia, Squamata)". Zootaxa 2244: 1âÂÂ50. (Rena nicefori, new combination).
- Dunn ER (1946). "A New Snake from the Eastern Andes of Colombia". Caldasia 4 (17): 121âÂÂ122. (Leptotyphlops nicefori, new species).
- Hedges SB (2011). "The type species of the threadsnake genus Tricheilostoma Jan revisited (Squamata, Leptotyphlopidae)". Zootaxa 3027: 63âÂÂ64. (Trilepida nicefori, new combination, p. 63).
- ; Passos, Paulo; Caicedo Portilla, José Rances; Arrendondo, Juan Camilo; Fernandes, Ronaldo (2010). "Taxonomy of the threadsnakes of the tribe Epictini (Squamata: Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae) in Colombia". Zootaxa 2724: 1âÂÂ28. (Tricheilostoma nicefori, new combination).