Diard's Blindsnake

Argyrophis diardii, commonly known as Diard's blind snake, the Indochinese blind snake, the large blind snake, and the large worm snake, is a species of harmless snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. There are two recognized subspecies.

Taxonomy

Argyrophis diardii was first described by German herpetologist Hermann Schlegel in 1839, as Typhlops Diardii. The type locality of Schlegel's specimen was "Cochinchina [southern Vietnam]". Saint Girons (1972: 32) described it as "Cochinchina sans certitude [southern Vietnam without certainty]", and Hahn (1980: 56) as "East Indies".

Etymology

Both the specific name, diardii, and the common name, "Diard's blindsnake", are in honor of French naturalist Pierre-Médard Diard.

The synonym, Typhlops Mülleri Schlegel, 1839, was named in honor of German naturalist Salomon Müller.

Subspecies

Two subspecies of Argyrophis diardii are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies:

Argyrophis diardii diardii Schlegel, 1839

Argyrophis diardii platyventris Khan, 1998

Description

Argyrophis diardii is heavy-bodied for a blindsnake. It has 22–25 scale rows around the body at midbody. The belly is distinctly flat.

Geographic distribution

Argyrophis diardii is found in India (Jalpaiguri-West Bengal, as far west as Dun Valley in Assam), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, Nias Island, Sumatra, Web Island (off northwest Sumatra), Bangka, and Borneo.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Argyrophis diardii are forest, shrubland, and grassland, at elevations of 30–1,524 m (98–5,000 ft), and it has also been found in agricultural areas.

Diet

Argyrophis diardii preys upon earthworms, insect larvae, and adult insects.

Reproduction

The mode of reproduction of Argyrophis diardii is uncertain. The species may be either oviparous or ovoviviparous.