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Levitonius

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Species of snake

Waray dwarf burrowing snake
Conservation status

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Cyclocoridae
Genus: Levitonius
Weinell, Paluh, Siler & Brown, 2020
Species: L. mirus
Binomial name
Levitonius mirus
Weinell, Paluh, Siler & Brown, 2020

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). 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). In addition, it has the smallest number of vertebrae of any snake, which is possibly related to its size. Its primary diet is earthworms.

Specimens of this genus had been collected in 2006 and 2007, and later again in 2014, but were misidentified. 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.

The genus is named after herpetologist Alan E. Leviton.

References

  1. 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. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Remarkable new species of snake found hidden in a biodiversity collection". phys.org. Archived from the original on 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  4. "Scientists Find Remarkable New Snake Species in Philippines | Biology | Sci-News.com". Breaking Science News | Sci-News.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-27. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  5. 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. Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
Taxon identifiers
Levitonius mirus


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