Levitonius, Weinell & Paluh & Siler & Brown, 2020

Weinell, Jeffrey L., Paluh, Daniel J., Siler, Cameron D. & Brown, Rafe M., 2020, A New, Miniaturized Genus and Species of Snake (Cyclocoridae) from the Philippines, Copeia 108 (4), pp. 907-923 : 912

Levitonius , new genus urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BBD9F92A-41D1-424B-B084-03EB- C68345AA

Dwarf Burrowing Snakes

Figures 1–8 , Tables 1–3

Type species.— Levitonius mirus , new species.

Diagnosis.— Members of the genus Levitonius can be distinguished by the possession of five supralabial scales, 15 longitudinal rows of dorsal scales throughout the length of the body, and subcaudal scales unpaired.

Description.— See description of Levitonius mirus , new species.

Content.— Levitonius includes a single species, Levitonius mirus , new species.

Etymology.— The new generic appellation Levitonius is a masculine noun and a patronym in the genitive singular, honoring the numerous contributions and life-long dedication of Alan E. Leviton to the study of the systematics of Philippine snakes.

Figures

FIG. 1. (A) Elevation map of the Philippines, showing location of islands and PAICs mentioned in this article; B.I. ¼ Babuyan Island Group, Sb. ¼ Sibuyan Island, Sq. ¼ Siquijor Island, C.S. ¼ Camiguin Sur, Tb. ¼ Tablas. (B) Samar, Leyte, and nearby islands; red star indicates the type locality of Levitonius mirus, new genus and species; blue circle indicates a second occurrence locality; (C) karst rainforest habitat at the L. mirus, new genus and species, type locality (Barangay San Rafael, Municipality of Taft, Samar Island).

FIG. 2. IQ-TREE phylogeny of Cyclocoridae inferred from Cyt b and CMOS genes; Levitonius mirus, new genus and species, samples highlighted in gray; values at internal nodes indicate ultrafast bootstrap support, and values 95 were considered strong support; branch lengths indicate substitutions/site. See Data Accessibility for tree file.

FIG. 3. Dorsal (left column), lateral (center column), and ventral (right) views of the skulls of representative cylocorine species. White scale bars ¼ 1 mm.

FIG. 4. Comparison of selected cranial bones of cyclocorid species. (A) Skull of Levitonius mirus, new genus and species, showing the position of bones i–iv; from left to right: bones of L. mirus, new genus and species, Myersophis alpestris, Oxyrhabdium leporinum, Hologerrhum philippinum, and Cyclocorus lineatus; i ¼ postorbital bone, ii ¼ supratemporal bone, iii ¼ quadrate bone, and iv ¼ maxilla. White scale bars ¼ 1 mm.

FIG. 5. Comparison of vertebrae of Levitonius mirus, new genus and species, and other cyclocorid species. (A) Whole skeleton (transparent) of L. mirus, new genus and species, showing the position of structures i–iv; (B) from left to right: L. mirus, new genus and species, Myersophis alpestris, Oxyrhabdium leporinum, Hologerrhum philippinum, and Cyclocorus lineatus; (A–B) i ¼ precloacal vertebra at midbody, ii ¼ cloacal vertebra, iii ¼ caudal vertebra midway along tail; (A) iv ¼ hemipenes. White scale bar ¼ 5 mm (A), 1 mm (B).

FIG. 6. Shape and position of the inner ear endocasts within the skulls (transparent) of representative cyclocorid species; asc ¼ anterior semicircular canal; v ¼ vestibule; red ¼ bony labyrinth; blue ¼ stapes; black scale bars ¼ 1 mm.

FIG. 7. Photographs of Levitonius mirus, new genus and species, type specimens (alcohol preserved): holotype PNM 9872 (A), and paratypes KU 311288 (B) and KU 305488 (C). Dorsal view of body (A, top left; B–C, left); ventral view of body (A, bottom left; B–C, center); dorsal view of head (A– C, top right); lateral view of head (A–C, center right); ventral view of head (A–C, bottom right). Thick black scale bars ¼ 10 mm; thin black scale bars ¼ 1 mm.

FIG. 8. Head scalation of Levitonius mirus, new genus and species, holotype (PNM 9872); (A) ventral, (B) lateral, and (C) dorsal views of head. Illustrations by Errol D. Hooper (2019). Black scale bar ¼ 1 mm.