Typhlops contorhinus, 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 : 21-22

Typhlops contorhinus new species ( Figs. 8 I, 9F)

Holotype: MNHNCu 4552 (field tag number 191296), a male from 4.9 km S La Tinta, Guantánamo Province, Cuba, 5 meters elevation, collected on 29 June 1990 by Richard Thomas, S. Blair Hedges, Emilio Alfaro, and Daniel McCallister.

Diagnosis: A moderately large and slender species of the T. biminiensis group differing from all members of the species group in the Bahamas and Cuba in having a short rostral ( Fig. 8 ), reflected in the high rostral indent (RI) value ( Fig. 10 F), and a large preocular apical diameter ( Fig. 10 C). The short rostral is also reflected in the width of the upper arm of the anterior nasal, which is relatively larger in T. contorhinus (ANT­ NAS/RW1 = 0.49) than other species in the group except T. notorachius and T. anousius . It further differs 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). It differs from T. biminiensis , T. arator , and T. perimychus in having a narrower rostral ( Fig 10 A) that is relatively broad on the apex of the snout ( Fig. 8 ). From T. perimychus , it also differs in being larger (316 mm versus 280 mm TL), having more middorsal scales (502 versus 453– 496), and a more slender body (TL/MBD 63 versus 41–59). In body shape, it is more slender (TL/MBD 63) than T. notorachius , T. anousius , and T. arator ( Table 2 ). From T. anousius , it also differs in having scale row reduction at 31% TL rather than 2% TL. From T. arator , it further differs in having 24–22 scale rows rather than 26–24 rows and in having fewer middorsal scales (502 versus 578–579).

Description: Snout rounded, lobed. Rostral broad, nearly straight­sided in dorsal aspect, sides curving mesiad to apex (RW1/RL1 0.93), not flared on apex; moderate umbo; no labial flare. Anterior nasal width as a proportion of RW1 0.49. Upper wing of anterior nasals broad, preocular angle relatively small (98°), apex rounded; lower portion contacting labials 2 and 3 of upper labial series. OL 1/2 height, OS 0.24. Rostronasal pattern strongly divergent. Postocular very elongate by fusion (on each side) with a lower scale, extending well below bottom edge of ocular. First parietals relatively narrow and long (i.e., not transversely elongate), the width of two succeeding scale rows. Second parietals present and similar in size to the first. TL 316 mm. TL/TA 53. TL/MBD 63. Middorsal scales 502. Scale rows 24 reducing to 22 at 31% TL. Coloration bicolor with dorsal pigmentation (medium brown) ending abruptly along a midlateral or dorsolateral line by dropping out of pigmentation on individual scales, resulting in a jagged line of separation between pigmented and nonpigmented scales along almost all of the length; nine pigmented scale rows at midbody.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality, an otherwise xeric site along the Río Jauco in extreme eastern Cuba ( Fig. 11 ).

Etymology: From the Greek, kontos, short, and rhinos, nose, an adjective meaning short­nosed.

The next new species having affinities with T. biminiensis occurs on the Maisi peninsula at the eastern end of 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.