Levitonius

Waray dwarf burrowing snake
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Cyclocoridae
Genus:	Levitonius Weinell, Paluh, Siler & Brown, 2020[2]
Species:	L. mirus
Binomial name
Levitonius mirus Weinell, Paluh, Siler & Brown, 2020[2]

Levitonius is a genus of cyclocorid snakes endemic to the Philippines. The only species in the genus is the Waray dwarf burrowing snake (Levitonius mirus).[2][3] It is native to the Samar and Leyte islands in the Philippines, where it lives among 112 other land and snake species.

Levitonus is smaller than the other Cyclocoridae, reaching only a length of 172 millimetres (6.8 in).[2] In addition, it has the smallest number of vertebrae of any snake, which is possibly related to its size.[3] Its primary diet is earthworms.[4]

Specimens of this genus had been collected in 2006 and 2007, and later again in 2014, but were misidentified.[3] In 2018 a specimen of the genus was described as "Unnamed Leyte-Samar lineage". It is thought to be the most basal member of the family Cyclocoridae.[2][5]

The genus is named after herpetologist Alan E. Leviton.[2][3]

References

1. Diesmos, A.C. (2022). "Levitonius mirus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T193858886A193858975. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T193858886A193858975.en. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
2. Weinell, Jeffrey L.; Paluh, Daniel J.; Siler, Cameron D.; Brown, Rafe M. (23 December 2020). "A New, Miniaturized Genus and Species of Snake (Cyclocoridae) from the Philippines". Copeia. 108 (4): 907–923. doi:10.1643/CH2020110. ISSN 0045-8511.
3. "Remarkable new species of snake found hidden in a biodiversity collection". phys.org. Archived from the original on 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
4. "Scientists Find Remarkable New Snake Species in Philippines | Biology | Sci-News.com". Breaking Science News | Sci-News.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-27. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
5. Weinell, Jeffrey L.; Brown, Rafe M. (February 2018). "Discovery of an old, archipelago-wide, endemic radiation of Philippine snakes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 119: 144–150. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.11.004. ISSN 1095-9513. PMID 29162550. Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2020-12-23.