Typhlops arator, 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 : 19-20

Typhlops arator new species ( Fig. 8 F, 9B)

Holotype: MNHNCu 191, a female, collected at “El Narigon and La India,” near Puerto Escondido, La Habana, Province, Cuba, by Ruben Regalado and Carlos Wotzkow, on 20 April 1988.

Paratype: USNM 564784, same locality as holotype, collected by Richard Thomas and Daniel McCallister on 10 July 1990.

Diagnosis: A large species of the Typhlops biminiensis Group that has a greater number of middorsal scales than any other West Indian species (578–579). Also, it has 26 scale rows anteriorly, more than any other West Indian species. It also has a uniquely shaped rostral ( Fig. 8 ), which differs from T. biminiensis in having an acuminate posterior edge (as in other Cuban species), not broadly rounded ( Fig. 8 F). The rostral scale also rounds the tip of the snout without narrowing, which is unique among Cuban species in the group, reflected in a high RW2 ( Fig. 10 D). Typhlops arator additionally has a large protrusion (umbo) of the snout ( Fig. 8 F).

Description: Snout narrow and ogival in outline, lobed, tapering from maximum width of head. Rostral broad and nearly parallel­sided, curving gently mesiad to apex (RW1/RL1 0.97), distinctly flared on apex and with a prominent apical (not ventral) umbo; no labial flare. Anterior nasal width as a proportion of RW1 0.35. Preocular angle 110°, apex rounded; lower portion contacting labials 2 and 3 of upper labial series. OL 1/2 height, OS 0.19. Rostronasal pattern strongly divergent. Postocular about twice as high as long. First parietal wide and wing­like, spanning two scale rows. Second parietal present on left and equal in size to the first, absent on right. TL 460 mm. TL/TA 46–48. TL/MBD 51–55. Middorsal scales 578–579. Scale rows 26 with posterior reduction to 24 rows occurring at 34–41% of TL. Coloration bicolor with dorsal pigmentation (very pale brown) ending abruptly along a midlateral or dorsolateral line by dropping out of pigmentation on individual scales; the pigmentation is so light that this is difficult to discern; pigmented scale rows at midbody 9– 11.

Distribution: Known only from Narigon (Habana Prov.), although possibly more widely distributed in western Cuba (see comments below) ( Fig. 11 ).

Etymology: From the Greek, arator , a plow, in allusion to the prominent rostral umbo.

Comments: In addition to the holotype and paratype, both from the same locality in La Habana Province, we are aware of a very large specimen collected by Julio Novo at Cueva de San Miguel near Viñales (Pinar del Rio Prov.) in Western Cuba during the 1980s. It was even larger than the holotype of T. arator , and probably one of the largest scolecophidians known from the Western Hemisphere. Although that specimen apparently is lost (L. Diaz, pers. comm.), DNA sequences (S. B. Hedges, unpublished) indicate that it is most closely related to T. arator , suggesting that it is either a closely related species or that T. arator is more widely distributed in western Cuba. Until that specimen is located, or additional material is collected, we are unable to speculate further.

The next new species having affinities with T. biminiensis occurs on the southern coast of eastern Cuba, east of the region of Guantánamo Bay. 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.