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Worm Snakes (Typhlops vermicularis): |
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kevin.argyle Member Joined: 23 May 2003 No. of posts: 4  View other posts by kevin.argyle |
Posted: 23 May 2003 Hi, Does anyone know, keep or see any Worm Snakes (Typhlops vermicularis), I have aquired a couple of captive bred specimens but I am at a real loss to find any real info on these wonderful little Snakes, to my knowledge so far there are only 6 people in the UK keeping the animals and know of no zoo that are keeping them. I would love to know mor, to study and to breed these secretive snakes, I would like to know if they are endangered, if they have ever been studied or if they are kept in any zoo collection, especially in the UK,
Regards Kevin |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 23 May 2003 Kevin, I do not remember it ever being on any of the Zoo inventories or anyone mentioning that they kept them when We had meetings. I cannot see that they would make a very good display animal and certainly would not have kept them at Poole Aquarium & Serpentarium as We would have had to kept them off display all the time. I do not think they are considered to be endangered but are certainly very secretive and I have always looked for them when in the Balkans but have never been successful so far. I know they are supposed to feed on Ants and Termites in the wild and have been found in their nests I do know someone who found one on a road next to a column of ants but he does not think it was feeding on them. There are a variety of papers that have been written on them with the majority on anatomy and classification though. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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kevin.argyle Member Joined: 23 May 2003 No. of posts: 4 View other posts by kevin.argyle |
Posted: 23 May 2003 David, Thanks, you have confirmed my suspiscions, I didn't really expect to find much as I have searched the web, Emailed major zoo's and asked anyone I could, without success. I do suspect that numbers wont be great in the wild, and certainly in captivity they seem neglected, as for them not being great for displays, well maybe, but are ants and termites, and they are displayed! Anyway thanks again, and if you could point me in the direction of any papers on them, particularly online, it would be most appreciated
Regards Kevin |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 24 May 2003 The leaf cutting ant display was one of our most popular exhibits with people spending more time there than anywhere else. The staff certainly spent a lot of time watching their behaviour when We first got the colony but they are not exactly subterranean. I have not been on the web for Typhlops as I find the majority of articles are fairly poor. I can send you a photocopy of the references I have from the main work on the species in Europe. If you have access to a University Library or computer system and they are subscribers see if you can do a literature search on Zoological Record which is the best data base. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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kevin.argyle Member Joined: 23 May 2003 No. of posts: 4 View other posts by kevin.argyle |
Posted: 24 May 2003 Thanks David , sorry wasnt meaning to sound sarcastic, just desperate to research these wonderful creatures! and thanks the list would be great! Regards Kevin |
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Peter Sutton Member Joined: 30 Aug 2006 No. of posts: 22 View other posts by Peter Sutton |
Posted: 31 Aug 2006 I have found Typhlops vermicularis on Corfu to the south of Pantokrator and at Agios Gordis, both times under rocks used by ants. I presume they take the ants at all stages of their life cycle. Peter Sutton |
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kevin.argyle Member Joined: 23 May 2003 No. of posts: 4 View other posts by kevin.argyle |
Posted: 05 Mar 2011 Still after all these years looking for ANY info on Worm Snakes (Typhlops vermicularis), Any help / info much appreciated, Regards Kevin |
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kevinb Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2009 No. of posts: 61 View other posts by kevinb |
Posted: 06 Mar 2011 What happened to your ones, did you manage to keep them alive? What are they fed on in captivity. |
- Worm Snakes (Typhlops vermicularis) |