Snakes

Question 1

Leptotyphlopidae

Answer 1

NA to SA, Africa, Middle East
Scolecophidia
mandibular raking- cloacal secretions that repel ants
found as deep as 49 ft

Question 2

Anomalepididae

Answer 2

SA
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking

Question 3

Typhlopidae

Answer 3

CA to SA, Africa, Madagascar, Middle East, South Asia, indo-australia
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking

Question 4

Gerrhopilidae

Answer 4

India, SE Asian islands
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking

Question 5

Xenotyphlopidae

Answer 5

Madagascar
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking

Question 6

Aniliidae

Answer 6

SA
monotypic
batesian mimic- false coral snake
fossorial- retain vestigial hind limbs

Question 7

Tropidophiidae

Answer 7

CA, SA
forest floor predators
most retain pelvic vestiges 
some spontaneously hemorrhage from eyes and mouth
some have catatonic behavior

Question 8

Boyleriidae

Answer 8

Round Island
extremely endangered
skink predation

Question 9

Anomochilidae

Answer 9

Indonesia

little known- probably burrowers

Question 10

Uropeltidae

Answer 10

South India, Sri Lanka
burrowers with soil plug tail
tail is shield to enemies and anchor while burrowing

Question 11

Cylindrophiidae

Answer 11

SE Asia
burrowers, large prey
flattened tail

Question 12

Xenopeltidae

Answer 12

SE Asia
sunbeam snake
nocturnal rainforest burrower
skink predation

Question 13

Loxocemidae

Answer 13

Mexico, CA
terrestrial burrower, upturned snout
enigmatic- retain mosaic of primitive features
dwarf python

Question 14

Pythonidae

Answer 14

Africa, SE Asia, indo australia
australi-papuan origin
oviparous- shivering behavior 
heat pits
large!

Question 15

Acrochoridae

Answer 15

SE Asian, indo-australia
highly aquatic
feed on fish- loose skin, conical scales, low metabolic rate

Question 16

Boidae

Answer 16

NA to SA, Africa, Madagascar, Europe, Middle East, Asia, New Guinea
retain pelvic vestiges
infrared pits
constrictors- fossorial to arboreal
Boinae- new world, viviparous, arboreal
Erycinae- lack heat pits, rubber boas
Ungaliophiinae- new world, small, arboreal

Question 17

Elapidae

Answer 17

NA to SA, Africa, Middle East, South Asia, indo australia
Colubroidea
shorter fangs
neurotoxic venom

Question 18

Viperidae

Answer 18

NA to SA, Africa, Asia, Europe
Colubroidea
large triangular head
arboreal or terrestrial 
ambush predator
Solenoglyphous 
Viperinae- old world, no heat pit
Croatalinae- new and old world pitvipers
Azemiopinae- one speices- no pit

Question 19

Colubridae

Answer 19

NA to SA, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia
Colubroidea
"wastebasket" 
Colubrinae- worldwide, North America
Dipsadinae- new world
Natricinae- worldwide, no SA

Question 20

Xenophiidae

Answer 20

peninsular Malaysia and Borneo
nocturnal, secretive
hinged teeth- probably eat skinks

Question 21

Xenodermatidae

Answer 21

India and SE Asia

Colubroidea

Question 22

Lamprophiidae

Answer 22

Africa, Madagascar, Arabian peninsula (few species), SE Asia (one genus)
Colubroidea
mobile maxilla- swing head backward, stab with posterolaterally protruding fang!

Question 23

Pareatidae

Answer 23

India and SE Asia

Colubroidea

Question 24

Homalopsidae

Answer 24

India and SE Asia to northern Australia

Colubroidea