Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Indochinese blind snake

Argyrophis diardii

Hermann Schlegel, 1839

In Thai: งูดินใหญ่อินโดจีน, ngu din yai Indo Chin

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

Taxonomy

A. diardii was first described by Hermann Schlegel in 1839, as Typhlops Diardii. The type locality of Schlegel's specimen was "Cochinchina ". Saint Girons (1972: 32) described it as "Cochinchina sans certitude ", and (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.

Subspecies

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

  • Argyrophis diardii diardii
  • Argyrophis diardii platyventris

Description

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

Distribution and habitat

A. 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.

The preferred natural habitats of A. diardii are forest, shrubland, and grassland, but it has also been found in agricultural areas.

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Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Vertebrata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Suborder
Serpentes
Family
Typhlopidae
Genus
Argyrophis
Species
Argyrophis diardii

Common names

  • German: Diards Blindschlange
  • English: Diard’s blindsnake
  • Thai: งูดินใหญ่อินโดจีน, ngu din yai Indo Chin

Subspecies

  • Argyrophis diardii diardii, Hermann Schlegel, 1839

  • Argyrophis diardii platyventris, Khan, 1998

Synonyms

  • Typhlops diardii, Tanya Chan-Ard et al. (2015)
  • Argyrophis diardii, Robert Alexander Pyron & Van Stanley Bartholomew Wallach (2014)
  • Asiatyphlops diardii, Stephen Blair Hedges et al. (2014)
  • Typhlops diardii, Nguyen Van Sang et al. (2009)
  • Typhlops diardii, Roy W. McDiarmid, Jonathan A. Campbell & T'Shaka A. Touré (1999)
  • Typhlops diardii, Merel J. Cox et al. (1998)
  • Typhlops diardi, Malcolm Arthur Smith (1943)
  • Typhlops labialis, Edgar Ravenswood Waite (1918)
  • Typhlops cinereus, Frank Wall (1909)
  • Typhlops tephrosoma, Frank Wall (1908)

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)

Photos

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Argyrophis diardii - Kaeng Krachan National Park
Argyrophis diardii - Kaeng Krachan National Park

Range Map

Distribution map of Indochinese blind snake, Argyrophis diardii in Thailand
  • Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kaeng Krachan National Park
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Mueang Chanthaburi District, Chanthaburi
  • Mueang Trat District, Trat
  • Phop Phra District, Tak
  • Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi
  • Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi
  • Sattahip District, Chonburi
  • Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary
Range map of Argyrophis diardii in Thailand