Megatyphlops schlegelii (Bianconi)

Broadley, Donald G. & Wallach, Van, 2009, 2255, Zootaxa 2255, pp. 1-100 : 48-52

Megatyphlops schlegelii (Bianconi)

( Fig. 9B)

Schlegel’s giant blind-snake

Typhylops (sic) schlegelii Bianconi, 1849a: 106 . Type locality: “Mozambico” [= Mozambique], collected by C. Fornasini , holotype BMI.

Typhlops schlegelii — Bianconi, 1849b: 203, 1850a: 183, pl. 6, fig. 2, 1850b in 1850–1870: 13, pl. 3, fig. 2; Jan & Sordelli, 1864a: 3, pl. 6, fig. 1; Peters 1882: 99; Boulenger, 1888: 139, 1893: 44, 1902: 17, 1910: 499, 1915a: 197; Sclater, 1898: 98; FitzSimons, F., 1910: 26, 1912 & 1919: 52; Werner, 1921: 318; Schmidt, 1923: 33; Rose, 1955: 75, 1962: 321; FitzSimons, V., 1966a: 38, 1966b: 42, fig.; Pienaar & FitzSimons, 1966: 136; Baird, 1970: 268, fig. 22C; Gans, 1975b: 93, fig.; Groombridge, 1979a: 495, 1979b: 678; Branch, 1988a: 47, pl. 39, 1988d: 8, fig. 2, 1991: 12, fig., 1993: 9, 2 figs., 1994: 47, pl. 39; Griffin et al., 1989: 37; Pough et al., 1998: 114, fig. 4.25A; Cundall & Irish, 2008: 599.

Typhlops (Onychocephalus) schlegeli — Jan, 1863: 13, 1864: 27.

Typhlops schlegeli, Jan, 1864: 27 ; Roux, 1907a: 75; Gough, 1908: 19; Essex, 1927: 924, figs. 69–70; McDowell, 1967: 687; Fitch, 1970: 121 (part); Tinkle & Gibbon, 1977: 21.

Onychocephalus petersii Bocage 1873 , Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. Nat., 2(15): 249. Type locality: “Biballa, l’intérieur de Mossamedes,” [= Provincia da Namibe, Angola] (14.767°S, 13.350° E, 900 m), syntypes (2) MBL 1868, collected by d’Anchieta, 1868 (destroyed by fire 18 March 1978); Griffin, 2003: 86.

Onychocephalus schlegelii — Bocage, 1873: 250.

Typhlops (Onychocephalus) humbo Bocage, 1886 , Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. Nat., 11(43): 171. Type locality: “Quissange dans l’intérieur de Benguella, Afrique” [= Angola], syntypes (2) MBL 1887, collected by J. d’Anchieta (destroyed by fire 18 March 1978); Bocage, 1895: 66; Hahn, 1977: 36.

Onychocephalus petersi — Bocage, 1886: 172; Hahn, 1977: 36.

Typhlops humbo — Bocage, 1887: 210, 1897: 198; Boulenger, 1893: 46; Sternfeld 1910d: 11; Werner, 1921: 318; Procter, 1922: 685; Loveridge, 1933: 199; FitzSimons, V., 1962: 75, 1966a: 39.

Typhlops hottentotus Bocage, 1893 , Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. Nat., 3(10): 117. Type locality: “Humbe, sur les bords du Cunene, Angola,” holotype MBL 1867, collected by J. d’Anchieta (destroyed by fire 18 March 1978); Bocage 1895: 69, 1897: 199; Boulenger 1896a: 588; Werner, 1921: 277; Monard, 1937: 103; Hahn, 1977: 36.

Typhlops humbo — Boulenger 1893: 46, 1896a: 588; Bocage, 1897: 198; Tornier, 1897: 66; Werner, 1909: 209, 1910: 353, 1921: 318; Sternfeld, 1910c: 11, 1910d: 11; Monard, 1937: 103.

Typhlops mucruso — (not Peters) Boulenger, 1893: 46 (var. “B” & var. “C”, part, Delagoa Bay), 1896a: 588 (part, Quissange), 1910: 498 (part, Barberton), 1915a: 197 (part); Sternfeld, 1910a: 53, 1910d: 12, figs. 8–9; Werner, 1915: 355, 1921: 318 (part); Duerden & Essex, 1923: 175, figs. 6–7; Monard, 1937: 103.

Typhlops petersii — Bocage, 1895: 68, 1897: 199; Monard, 1937: 103.

Typhlops bibronii —(not A. Smith) Nieden, 1913: 449; Mertens, 1955: 86.

Typhlops mucroso (sic) varius — Hewitt & Power, 1913: 160 (part, Francistown).

Typhlops hottentottus — Werner, 1921: 318.

Typhlops schlegelii schlegelii — Loveridge, 1933: 214 (part); FitzSimons, V., 1957: 386, 1962: 73, fig. 10, col. pls. 2 & 4, 1966a: 38, 1974: 70, pl. 5, fig. 1, 1978: 60, pl. 5, fig. 1; List, 1966: 38, pl. 15, fig. 8; Pooley, 1965: 47; Pienaar & FitzSimons, 1966: 136, pls. 54–55; Isemonger, 1968: 82, 1983: 85; Broadley, 1971: 70, 1983 & 1990a: 45, fig. 9, pl. 2; Bruton & Haacke, 1975: 27; Jacobsen, 1978: 10, 1989: 742; Pienaar et al., 1978: 119, pls. 49–50, 1983: 128, pls. 54– 54A; Welch, 1982: 127, 1994: 57; Auerbach, 1985: 31, 1987: 145, pl. 14, fig. 2; Patterson, 1987: 66, fig.; Branch, 1988a: 47, pl. 39, 1988b: 11; Bourquin, 1989: 20; Spawls & De Graaf, 1989: 14; Marais: 1992: 183, 3 figs.; Bauer et al., 1993: 134; Haagner, 1994: 37; Lambiris, 1998: 6; Schneider et al., 2005: 116.

Typhlops schlegelii mucruso — (not Peters) Loveridge, 1933: 216 (part, Quissange); Mertens, 1937: 11, 1938: 438, 1955: 87, 1971: 75; Buys & Buys, 1983a & 1983b: 20, fig. 36.

Typhlops schlegeli mucroso (sic) — Parker, 1936: 120.

Typhlops schlegeli schlegeli — Brynard & Pienaar, 1960: 28; Langebartel, 1968: 11; FitzSimons, V., 1970: 70, pl. 5, fig. 1.

Typhlops dinga —FitzSimons, V., 1962: 73.

Rhinotyphlops schlegelii schlegelii — Bellairs, 1969a & 1970: 100; Roux-Estève, 1974: 166, fig. 114, 1975a: 495, figs. 31–32; Bruton & Haacke 1980: 262; Hahn 1980: 34; Welch, 1982: 127, 1994: 57; Haagner 1991: 20; Boycott 1992: 91; Boycott & Culverwell 1992: 40; Boycott 1992: 91; Branch, 1998: 54; Webb et al., 2001: 560; Areste & Cebrián, 2003: 43, fig.; Wallach, 2003: 240; Bourquin, 2004: 72; Marais, 2004: 283, 2 figs.

Rhinotyphlops schlegelii petersii — Roux-Estève, 1974: 179, fig. 123, 1975a: 495; Hahn 1980: 35; Elzen, 1980: 333; Welch, 1982:127, 1994: 57; Branch, 1988a: 48, 1998: 54; Webb et al, 2001: 560; Areste & Cebrián, 2003: 43; Griffin, 2003: 86; Marais, 2004: 284, fig.

Typhlops schlegelli (sic)— Gans, 1975a: 93, fig.

Rhinotyphlops schlegelii — Hahn, 1977: 36; Meirte 1992: 19 (part); Wallach, 1993b: 33, 1998a: 182, 1998b: 343; Greene, 1994: 151 (part); Frank & Ramus, 1995: 252; Wallach & Ineich, 1996: 370; Branch, 1998: 54, pl. 39, 2001: 9, 2 figs.; Wallach, 1998a: 182, 1998b: 343, 2003: 240 (part); Mattison, 1999: 147 (part); McDiarmid et al. 1999: 84 (part); Broadley & Wallach, 2000: 167; Broadley, 2000a: 296, 2004: 327; Broadley & Wallach, 2000: 167;? Kley, 2001: 1323; Webb et al., 2001: 559; Griffin, 2003: 86; Murphy, 2003: 552 (part); Marais, 2004: 283, 2 figs, 2007: 89, fig.; Schneider et al., 2005: 116; Schmidt, W., 2006: 15; Alexander & Marais, 2007: 50, 2 figs.; Cundall & Irish, 2008: 599; Maritz & Alexander, 2009: 6.

Rhinotyphlops schlegeli schlegeli — Jacobsen & Haacke, 1980: 10, 2 figs.

Typhlops schlegelii petersii — Broadley, 1983 & 1990a: 48; Branch, 1988a: 47, pl. 39, 1988b: 11; Marais & Irish, 145; Marais, 1992: 184.

Typhlops schegelii (sic)— Hedges, 1983: 2; Mattison, 1986: 127.

Rhinotyphlops schlegeli — Hughes, 1983: 354; Obst et al., 1984: 370, 2 figs., 1988: 675, 2 figs.; Chifundera, 1990: 141; Coborn, 1991: 110; O’Shea & Halliday, 2001: 104, fig.; Brogard, 2005: 113; Jacobsen, 2005: 88, fig.; O’Shea, 2007: 96, 97, 2 figs.

Rhinotyphlops dinga — (not Peters) Meirte 1992: 19 (part).

Typlops (sic) schlegeli — Pough et al., 1998: 576.

Rana (sic) schlegelii schelegelii— Webb et al., 2001: 558.

Rana (sic) schlegelii petersii — Webb et al., 2001: 558.

Rhinotyphlops mucruso — Pough et al., 2004: 150, fig. 4.31A.

Rhinotyphlops mucroso — Brogard, 2005: 114.

Description. Snout very prominent, with a sharp keratinised horizontal edge on rostral and nasals (in young specimens this is feeble or absent); rostral very large, unguiform, length/width ratio 1.11–1.47 (mean = 1.29); frontal crescentic; supraocular transverse, its lateral apex between preocular and ocular; eye distinct, near or beneath the anterior edge of ocular; nasal in contact with first and second labials, nasal suture arising from first; SIP T-II-O or T-X (N2, P/O, O, O). MSR 32–45 (mean = 37.0, n = 169); MD 345–620 (mean = 427.4, n = 164); vertebrae 175–206 (mean = 189.7, n = 21); MD/V ratio 1.98–2.53 (mean = 2.20, n = 21), L/D ratio 19–46 (mean = 28.2, n = 127). There is great geographical variation in the middorsal scale count, which is lowest in southern Angola and highest in southern Mozambique. There also appears to be little overlap in male counts between the southeastern populations (S Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, East Caprivi) and the northwestern ones ( Angola, Namibia). Thusly, SE males—MD = 382–494 (mean = 413.5, S.D. = 32.95, n = 14); NW males—MD = 350–376 (mean = 363.3, S.D. = 8.76, n = 6); SE females—MD = 403–498 (mean = 451.9, S.D. = 31.37, n = 12), NW females—MD = 407–440 (mean = 423.3, S.D. = 10.95, n = 7). Usually marbled or speckled black and white above, sometimes uniform black or with scattered white scales, but SAM 19905 has only a narrow white mid-ventral stripe. Venter usually immaculate, rarely with irregular black speckling or a black mid-ventral stripe. Largest specimen (NKW 246—Pretorius Kop, Kruger National Park, South Africa) has a total length of 804 mm.

Distribution. Southern Mozambique, northern KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, through the northeastern provinces of South Africa and central Botswana to northern Namibia and southeastern Angola, NSL- 1775 m ( Figs. 16–17).

Localities. ANGOLA. Caimbambo NMZB-UM 28064 ; Erikson’s Drift, Cunene River SAM 16598 ; Humbe MBL 1867 (holotype of Typhlops hottentotus Bocage ) , MBL 1868 (syntype of Onychocephalus petersii Bocage ) ; 10 km SE of Joao de Almeida TMP 41308 ; Quissange BMNH 93.12.27.9–10; MBL 1151 , 1171 (5) , 1175 (2), 1887 (holotype of Onychocephalus humbo Bocage ). NAMIBIA. Aikab Cave , Outjo SMWN 7081 ; Brertenbach SMWN 3186 ; Etengwa SMWN 1995 ; Franken SMWN 7062 ; Gemsbok Pan TMP 68801 ; Gravelotte TMP 39125 ; Grootfontein North SAM 19904–05 ; SMWN 2000 , 9094 ; Halali SMWN 9139 ; Hoasas SMWN 2008 ; Hobatere Lodge SMWN 7847 , 9095 ; Hochkamp SMWN 9138 , 9145 ; Katima Mulilo NMZB-UM 24164 ; Namakunde SAM 16618 ; Namutoni TMP 40055 ; Okahandja SAM 19830 (2) ; SMWN 2001–02 , 2007 ; TMP 4916 ; Okombongora SMWN 9144 ; Okaukuejo SMWN 9133 , 9153–54 ; Opkavikenga SMWN 5277 ; Omatako SMWN 7546 ; Ombujomatemba (Van den Elzen, 1980); Omitara SMWN 2005 ; Omongongua BMNH 1936.8.1.667; Ondiri SMWN 379 ; Orumana SMWN 2003 ; Osambasatjuru SMWN 9135 ; Outjo SMWN 9151 ; Ovamboland TMP 49908 ; Quickborn SMWN 9158 ; Rodenstein SMWN 7935 ; Ruacana SMWN 1487 (2) ; Runtu SAM 19705 (2) ; Schonhausen SMWN 9146–47 ; Tsumkwe SMWN 2004 (2) , 3434, 4396; Urupupa SMWN 9148 ; Vuurslag SMWN 2009 ; Waterberg Plateau Park SMWN 9141 ; 25 km S of Windhoek NMZB-UM 13103 ; Zunis SMWN 9137 , 9149–50 . BOTSWANA. Boro River TMP 44810, 45988 ; Khwai NMZB-UM 18090 ; Mochudi SAM 13633 ; Moeding College NMZB 8761 , 11323 ; Orapa TMP 48160 . SOUTH AFRICA. Acornhoek TMP 24615 ; Alfa Farm TMP 42418 ; Andover Farm NMZB 11096 ; Ben Lavin Nature Rererve ( Jacobsen, 1989); Chakwa Agricultural College TMP 68635 ; Derdeskraal TMP 12612 ; False Bay Park TMP 79055 ; Giyani ( Jacobsen, 1989); Gravelotte TMP 7363 ; Hans Hoheisen Research Station, Hans Merensky & Happy Rest Nature Reserves ( Jacobsen, 1989); Hectorspruit NMZB 947 ; TMP 4907–08 , 4910–15 ; Helena ( Jacobsen, 1989); Hlabisa TMP 57781 ; Kaapmuiden TMP 41686 ; Komatipoort TMP 4897 , 4901 ; Krokodilpoort TMP 4904 ; Kwanganese to Ndumu TMP 16784 ; Kruger National Park: Bobomene NKW / S 237 ; Klopperfontein NKW / S 182 ; Madzimu to Bvumunyundu NKW / S 282 , 291 ; Mahembane to Magavane NKW / S 281 , 292 ; Malelane NKW / S 145 ; Malopene NKW / S 56 ; Matukwane NKW / S 305 ; Nyandu Sandveld NMZB-UM 32038–40 ; TMP 28773 ; Pafuri NKW / S 334 ; Pretorius Kop NKW / S 6 , 246 ; Punda Milia TMP 44007 ; Shitlave NKW / S 67 ; Skukuza NKW / S 39 , 75 A, 104, 110, 118; Tswiriri NKW / S 67 ; Ludlow, Malelane & Manyeleti Game Reserve ( Jacobsen, 1989); Mbazwane TMP 44037 ; Mooketsi TMP 7362 ; Mkuze Game Reserve TMP 55458, 62834 , 64688 ; Naboomspruit TMP 4903 , 30014 ; Ndumu Game Reserve TMP 28773, 39447 ; Okkernootboom ( Jacobsen, 1989); Ozabeni TMP 80202 ; Pietersburg TMP 30015 ; Potgietersrus TMP 4931 , 13832 ; Pretoria TMP 30156 ; Ritavi ( Jacobsen, 1989); Rolvark Farm TMP 42968 ; St. Lucia Game Park TMP 67728 ; Santa Rosa Game Park TMP 57660 ; Selati TMP 4899 ; Sihangwane TMP 16784, 56722 ; Swadini Dam & Udney ( Jacobsen, 1989); Vluchtkraal TMP 4898 ; Waterval Boven TMP 44174 ; Zaaiplaats TMP 4930 . SWAZILAND. Inyetane TMP —; Manzini TMP 24114 ;

Tshaneni BMNH 1975.118–120; NMZB-UM 31458, 32707–10; TMP —; Vuvulane BMNH 1975.121. MOZAMBIQUE. Alves de Lima NMZB-UM 30630–31; Chibuto PEM 15562, 15567–68; Chimonzo TMP 29392; Delagoa Bay BMNH 1888.6.25.10, 1891.9.15.6; SAM 1853; TMP 4902, 4906, 4909; Mambone CZL —; Miquia NMZB-UM 30632–33; Pande FMNH 190714, 200283; Rikatla MMK —; Unguana NMZB-UM 28461; Zinave NMZB-UM 26997, 28431, 29381, 30634.