Typhlops anchaurus, Thomas, Richard & Hedges, Blair, 2007

Thomas, Richard & Hedges, Blair, 2007, Eleven new species of snakes of the genus Typhlops (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from Hispaniola and Cuba, Zootaxa 1400, pp. 1-26 : 22-23

Typhlops anchaurus new species ( Fig. 8 J)

Holotype: MNHNCu 4553 (field tag number 190563), collected from within 1 km of Cueva de Agua (2.5 km airline NW Maisí), Guantánamo Province, Cuba on 31 July 1989 by Richard Thomas.

Diagnosis: A slender, moderate sized, and lightly pigmented species of the Typhlops biminiensis group distinguished from T. biminiensis in having a rostral with an acuminate posterior edge, not broadly rounded, and a more slender body (TL/MBD 63 versus 39–51). From T. arator , it differs in having 24–22 scale rows rather than 26–24 rows, in having fewer middorsal scales (514 versus 578–579), and in being more slender (TL/MBD 63 versus 51–55 in T. arator ). From T. perimychus , it differs in having a greater number of middorsal scales (514 versus 453–496), a well­developed rostral protuberance (umbo), and a more slender body (TL/ MBD 63 versus 41–59). From T. anousius , it differs in having scale row reduction at 31% TL rather than 2% TL and in having a relatively smaller upper arm of the anterior nasal (ANTNAS/RW1 = 0.36 versus 0.40–0.64 in T. anousius ). The latter trait also distinguishes T. anchaurus from T. notorachius (0.42–0.53) and T. contorhinus (0.49). Additionally, T. anchaurus differs from T. notorachius in having a more slender body (TL/ MBD 63 versus 45–57), and a well­developed umbo. From T. contorhinus , it also differs in having a relatively larger rostral ( Fig. 10 A), a smaller preocular apical diameter ( Fig. 10 C), relatively large eyes, and a smaller rostral indent ( Fig. 10 F).

Description: Snout tapering, somewhat pointed. Rostral broad and initially straight sided but curving smoothly towards apex (RW1/RL1 0.87), not flared on apex; umbo prominent and ventrally protuberant; no labial flare. Anterior nasal width as a proportion of RW1 0.36. Preocular angle 110°, apex rounded; lower portion contacting labials 2 and 3 of upper labial series on the left but supralabial 3 only on the right. OL 1/2 height, OS 0.23. Rostronasal pattern strongly divergent. Postocular low and relatively short, about 2 times higher than long. First parietal wide and wing­like, spanning 2. No second parietal. TL 240 mm. TL/TA 48. TL/MBD 63. Middorsal scales 514. Scale rows 24 reducing to 22 at 31% TL. Coloration bicolor but pigment very light, ending ventrad by dropping out of scales; seven pigmented scale rows along the body.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality at the extreme eastern tip of Cuba ( Fig. 11 ).

Etymology: From the Greek, anchauros, greeting the dawn, in reference to the type locality at the extreme eastern tip of Cuba.

The last new species having affinities with T. biminiensis occurs in south­central Cuba. It may be known as

Figures

FIGURE 8. Head scalation in the Typhlops biminiensis Group, including seven new species from Cuba. (A) T. biminiensis (ASFS V 11655), from Elbow Cay, Cay Sal Bank, Bahamas. (B) T. paradoxus (ASFS V 12067), from Great Inagua, Bahamas. (C) T. epactius (ASFS V 11673), from Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands. (D) T. caymanensis (ASFS V 17112), from Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. (E) T. perimychus (USNM 564800), holotype, from Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba. (F) T. arator (MNHNCu 191), holotype, from El Narigon, La Habana, Province, Cuba). (G) T. anousius (MNHNCu 4550), holotype, from 3.5 km E Tortuguilla, Guantánamo Province, Cuba. (H) T. notorachius (MNHNCu 4551), holotype, from 9.4 km W Imias, Guantánamo Province, Cuba. (I) T. contorhinus (MNHNCu 4552), holotype, from 4.9 km S La Tinta, Guantánamo Province, Cuba. (J) T. anchaurus (MNHNCu 4553), holotype, from within 1 km of Cueva de Agua (2.5 km airline NW Maisí), Guantánamo Province, Cuba. (K) T. satelles (SMF 61303), holotype, from Rancho Luna, about 12 km airline S Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos Province, Cuba.

FIGURE 10. Variation in measurements of Typhlops biminiensis and Cuban species of the Typhlops biminiensis Group. For all graphs (A – F), the following species are indicated by symbols: T. anchaurus (open diamond), T. anousius (closed square), T. arator (closed diamond), T. biminiensis (open circle), T. contorhinus (open triangle), T. notorachius (closed triangle), T. paradoxus (open square), T. perimychus (closed circle), T. satelles (“ X ”). Trendlines are indicated on some graphs for T. biminiensis and T. perimychus. See text for definition of abbreviations.

FIGURE 11. Geographic distribution of seven species of blindsnakes (Typhlops) in Cuba. Closed triangles = T. perimychus, closed hexagons = T. arator, open circle = T. anousius, closed circle = T. notorachius, open square = T. contorhinus, open triangle = T. anchaurus, closed square = T. satelles.