Arboreality in the typhlopid Madatyphlops ocularis from north-eastern Madagascar, with a review of climbing behaviour in scolecophidian snakes

Scolecophidians (blind or thread snakes) are a diverse taxon typically characterized as strictly fossorial snakes that are highly adapted to subterranean lifestyle. However, reports of climbing behaviour in various species underline the gaps in our knowledge regarding the behaviour of these secretive animals. Here, we present the first record of arboreality in the Madagascar-endemic typhlopid Madatyphlops ocularis (Parker, 1927) based on observations of three individuals, constituting the second published report of climbing behaviour in Malagasy blind snakes. We furthermore provide the first reliably identified photographs of this species in life, review the distribution of this species, and discuss possible functions of the climbing behaviour such as mate attraction.