Common names: Mauritius snakes,[2] Round Island boas, splitjaw snakes.
The Bolyeriidae are a family[2] of snakes native to Mauritius and a few islands around it, especially Round Island. They also used to be found on the island of Mauritius, but were extirpated there due to human influence and foraging pigs in particular.[3] These snakes used to be placed in the Boidae, but are now classed as a separate family. Two monotypicgenera are recognized, but only a single species is extant (not extinct).[2] Bolyeriidae appear to be most closely related to the Asian genus Xenophidion.[4]
Geographic range
Found in Mauritius and its surrounding islets such as Serpent island, Round island, Flat island etc.[1]
Both of these monotypic genera once inhabited Mauritius and/or a number of islands around it. However, Bolyeria hasn't been reported since 1975 and is believed to be extinct, while Casarea is known to survive only on Round Island.[1]
References
^ abcdeMcDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA. (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^Lawson, R.; Slowinski, J. B.; Burbrink, F. T. (2004). "A molecular approach to discerning the phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic snake Xenophidion schaeferi among the Alethinophidia". Journal of Zoology. 263 (3): 285–294. CiteSeerX10.1.1.504.6967. doi:10.1017/s0952836904005278.
Barker, David G.; Barker, Tracy M. (2003). "Family: Splitjaw snakes". In Murphy, James B.; Schlager, Neil (eds.). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Second Edition. Vol. 7. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale Group. ISBN0-7876-5783-2.
Hoffstetter R (1946). "Remarques sur la classification des Ophidiens et particulièrement des Boides des Mascareignes (Boylerinae subfam. nov.)". Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Series 2, 18 (1): 132–135. (in French).
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bolyeriidae.