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Typhlopidae · Philippine record

Manila Worm Snake

Malayotyphlops manilae(TAYLOR 1919)

Length
Length not yet addedAtlas entry awaiting completion
Venom status
Venom classification not yet addedHuman effects: atlas summary awaiting completion
Known venom effects
Effects not yet summarised in this atlas

Malayotyphlops manilae is a Typhlopidae snake included in the Philippine checklist. Its atlas account links 1 named island or island-group record to the source literature.

OccurrenceConfirmed
Islands named1
Natural history3 sourced topics
References3

Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending

Explore the island records ↓

Species portrait

Malayotyphlops manilae

Image to follow
Reserved for a contributor imageCredit and usage rights will accompany the image.

The illustrated collection

Adult & juvenile

Adult · study plate

Malayotyphlops manilae

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Juvenile · study plate

Malayotyphlops manilae

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Reserved for a contributor imageCredit and usage rights will accompany the image.

Life stages will be labelled from the contributor’s information. Images alone do not establish identification or a locality record.

Media provenance

Every image carries its source.

Contributor images are forthcoming. Photographs and illustrations will retain their individual credits, permissions and evidence notes.

A closer look

Natural history & identification

Taxonomic context

Generic and even family placement remain disputed in the cited treatments. Wynn and colleagues regarded the name as unresolved without renewed examination of the holotype.

Evidence & scope

Literature documented · Comment: status; Wynn et al. (2016)

Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.

The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.

Reproduction

The species account records egg-laying reproduction. A verified Philippine clutch-size range, incubation interval and breeding calendar are not established here.

Evidence & scope

Literature documented · Reproduction field

Reproductive mode reported for this named species.

Mode alone does not establish litter or clutch size, seasonal timing, or captive husbandry requirements.

Philippine distribution

The atlas records Malayotyphlops manilae from these named Philippine areas: Luzon. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.

Evidence & scope

Literature documented · Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review

The original evidence level is retained.

A country listing cannot establish an island or a precise locality.

Across the archipelago

Where this species is recorded

Philippines
Malayotyphlops manilae — all named islandsLuzon

Documented islands: gold · island groups: dashed circles

Island-level records · not continuous habitat coverage. Dashed circles locate groups, not individual observations.

Philippine distribution

Documented places

1 named island / island group

Select an island to read its distribution record and sources. Uncoloured islands are not evidence of absence.

Distribution record & sources

Philippines (Luzon). Type locality: “Filipinas”

References attached to this species account. Island-specific evidence is shown separately where available.

The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗

Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines: A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature ↗

Malayotyphlops manilae — The Reptile Database species account ↗

Living with wildlife

Give this snake space.

Venom classification not yet added · Effects not yet summarised in this atlas

Observe from a distance. Do not handle, corner or capture a snake to identify it. An incomplete venom account is not evidence that a species is safe to handle.

After a suspected snakebite, keep the person still and arrange urgent medical care. Avoid tight tourniquets, cutting, suction and unproven remedies. Do not wait to identify the snake before seeking help.

WHO guidance on snakebite first aid

Species record

Taxonomy, occurrence & evidence.

Identity

Accepted name
Malayotyphlops manilae
Common names
Manila Worm Snake
Authority
(TAYLOR 1919)
Year described
1919
Taxonomic status
Accepted species
Family
Typhlopidae
Genus
Malayotyphlops
Species epithet
manilae
Persistent ID
PH-SERP-200DA41596
Checklist checked
2026-09-05

Philippine occurrence

Status
Present
Confidence
Confirmed
Basis
2018 Philippine synopsis treatment plus current RDB listing
Islands named
Luzon

Range noteCountry/island text is not a range polygon or locality record.

Source distribution statement

Philippines (Luzon). Type locality: “Filipinas”

Knowledge coverage

EndemismResearch pending
EcologyResearch pending
VenomVenom classification not yet added
Effects not yet summarised in this atlas
Detailed research: Research pending
ConservationResearch pending

Names through time

Nomenclatural trail

Typhlops manilae TAYLOR 1919: 106 Typhlops manilae — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 110 Malayotyphlops manilae — HEDGES et al. 2014 Gerrhopilus manilae — PYRON & WALLACH 2014 Malayotyphlops manilae — WYNN et al. 2016 (incertae sedis) Typhlops manilae — WALLACH et al. 2014: 766

Taxonomic and source notes

Status unclear: Pyron and Wallach (2014) disagree with Hedges et al. (2014) and place T. manilae in Gerrhopilus based on Taylor’s statement that it has a subocular. Without examination of the holotype, Wynn et al. (2016) “feel that it is not possible to determine to which genus, or even family, T. manilae Taylor belongs” and consider the species as “incertae sedis”.

References attached to this record

2026

The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026

Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Reyes, F.; Kudera, J.; Hošek, J. (eds.)

Open source ↗
2018

Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines: A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature

Leviton, A. E.; Siler, C. D.; Weinell, J. L.; Brown, R. M.

Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64(14): 399–568

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11512589

Open source ↗
n.d.

Malayotyphlops manilae — The Reptile Database species account

Uetz, P.; Hallermann, J. et al. (editors)

Public species fields consulted for bounded biological summaries. Primary sources quoted within the database were not independently examined unless explicitly stated. The catalogue name may differ from the current source title.

Open source ↗