The Leptotyphlops longicaudus species group

The primitive members of this group are characterised by an elongate skull with a postparietal bone separating the supraoccipitals, paired parietal bones more or less separated and sometimes the frontals also. There is a discrete frontal shield, a small anterior supralabial, a moderate posterior supralabial, a semilunate cloacal shield, a small apical spine, and brown dorsal pigmentation, paler below.

Leptotyphlops longicaudus of southeastern Africa seems to be the most basal species, followed by the easternmost representative of the group, L. blanfordii, inhabiting southwestern Iran, eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan and northwestern India (Hahn, 1978). In the remaining eastern members of the group the frontal and parietal bones are widely separated and the roof of the braincase is unossified (the L. cairi complex).