Typhlops satelles, 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 : 23-24

Typhlops satelles new species ( Fig. 8 K)

Holotype: SMF 61303, Rancho Luna, about 12 km airline S Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos Province, in south­central Cuba on 22 April 1966 by Z. Vogel.

Paratype: SMF 61304, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis: A slender and moderately large Typhlops of the T. biminiensis group. It differs from T. biminiensis in having a smaller rostral ( Fig. 10 A) with an acuminate posterior edge ( Fig. 8 K), a relatively short naris­eye distance ( Fig. 10 B), a more slender body (TL/MBD 62–75 versus 39–51), and scale row reduction at 11% TL instead of 50%. It differing from all other Cuban species of the group in having a more broadly rounded rostral scale in dorsal aspect that narrows less as it proceeds over the apex of the snout ( Fig. 8 K), and in its low rostral indent ( Fig. 10 F). Additionally, it differs from T. perimychus in having a greater number of middorsal scales (514–527 versus 453–496), scale row reduction at 11% TL instead of 50%, and a more slender body (TL/MBD 62–75 versus 41–59). From T. arator it differs in being more slender (TL/MBD 62–75 versus 51–55), having a shorter tail (TL/TA 61 versus 46–48), having scale row reduction at 11% TL instead of 34–41%, having 22–24 anterior scale rows instead of 26, having 22 posterior scale rows instead of 24, and having fewer middorsal scales (514–527 versus 578–579). From T. anousius it differs in being more slender (TL/MBD 62–75 versus 45–55), having scale row reduction at 11% TL instead of 2%, having a wider rostral scale ( Fig. 10 E), and having a relatively smaller upper arm of the anterior nasal (ANTNAS/RW1 = 0.32–0.33 versus 0.40–0.64). From T. notorachius , it differs in being more slender (TL/MBD 62–75 versus 45–47), having scale row reduction at 11% TL instead of 15–40%, and having a relatively smaller upper arm of the anterior nasal (ANTNAS/RW1 = 0.32–0.33 versus 0.42–0.53). From T. contorhinus , it differs in having scale row reduction at 11% TL instead of 31%, having a relatively smaller upper arm of the anterior nasal (ANTNAS/RW1 = 0.32–0.33 versus 0.49), and lacking a rostral umbo. From T. anchaurus , it differs in having scale row reduction at 11% TL instead of 31%, and lacking a rostral umbo.

Description: Snout rounded, somewhat down­turned with minimal umbo. Rostral broad and rounded in dorsal aspect, nearly as broad as long (RW1/RL1 0.98 in both specimens), with slight mucronation at tip; not flared on apex, apical width (RW2) 0.79–0.83 RW1; no labial flare, labial width (RW3) 0.69–0.76 RW1. Anterior nasal width as a proportion of RW1 0.32–0.33. Preocular angle 113–125°, apex not sharply angled; lower portion contacting labials 2 and 3 of upper labial series. OL 1/2 height, OS 0.20–0.28. Rostronasal pattern strongly divergent. Postocular 3.2–3.6 times higher than long. First parietal standard, spanning 2 scale rows. Second parietal present and similar in width to the first. TL to 350 mm. TL/TA 55–61. TL/MBD 62– 75. Middorsal scales 514–527. Scale rows 24 reducing to 22 rows very far anteriorly at 11% TL or 22 rows not reducing. Coloration of holotype bicolor with dorsal pigmentation (pale brown) very restricted, so that viewed from above it appears as a narrow dorsal band 7 scale rows wide, ending along a jagged border by dropping out of pigmented scales. It is difficult to discern the pigment in the extremely desiccated paratype, but it appears to be the same as described for the holotype.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality, which is a public beach (0 m elevation) east of the inlet to the Bahia de Cienfuegos ( Fig. 11 ).

Etymology: Satelles is Latin for guard or companion, a satellite, as Typhlops satelles may be regarded, also recalling the type locality.

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.