Diversity, natural history, and geographic distribution of snakes in the Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil
Author
Guedes, Thaís B.
Author
Nogueira, Cristiano
Author
Marques, Otavio A. V.
text
Zootaxa
2014
3863
1
1
93
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3863.1.1
994b97ae-8a03-4726-86f7-ce51e39578a4
1175-5326
287111
A683CABE-4305-47A4-A063-03FDF93182C0
Liotyphlops
cf.
ternetzii
(Boulenger, 1896)
“Cobra-cega”
(Figs. 8.2 and 21.1)
Only one specimen, recorded in state of Ceará, Parque Nacional de Ubajara, Ibiapaba-Araripe Plateau,
519 m
elevation. The nominal species
L. ternetzii
is widespread along central Brazilian Cerrado (
Nogueira
et al
. 2010
, 2011). The single specimen was collected in arboreal caatinga next to a river on red-yellow latosols (Loebmann 2009;
Loebmann & Haddad 2010
), but we believe its presence in the Caatinga may be associated to elevated plateaus with cerrado vegetation. The species has fossorial habits, is nocturnal, and feeds mostly on arthropods (
Parpinelli & Marques 2008
).