Morphological, osteological, and genetic data support a new species of Madatyphlops (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) endemic to Mayotte Island, Comoros Archipelago

Abstract

Blind snakes (Typhlopidae) are an enigmatic group of small burrowing snakes whose anatomy, phylogenetics, and biodiversity remain poorly known. Madatyphlops comorensis (Boulenger, 1889), endemic to the Comoros Archipelago in the Western Indian Ocean, is one of many species whose phylogenetic placement and generic assignment is unclear. We used DNA barcoding, external morphological examination, and osteological data from 3D reconstruction with micro-CT to study specimens of Madatyphlops from the Comoros Archipelago. Our results support the placement of M. comorensis in Madatyphlops and the recognition of the specimens from Mayotte Island as a closely related but distinct species, which we describe as Madatyphlops eudelini sp. nov. In this context, we present the first detailed osteological descriptions of any species of Madatyphlops, which we hope will serve as groundwork for further osteological studies in this genus and contribute to our limited but growing understanding of the osteology of typhlopid snakes.

Deconstructing the Gestalt: New concepts and tests of homology, as exemplified by a re‐conceptualization of “microstomy” in squamates

“…This process is somewhat smaller and more posteriorly positioned in Xenotyphlops (see Chretien et al, 2019). The quadrate articulates dorsally with the prootic and otoccipital in most typhlopoids (Figure 9; e.g., Afrotyphlops, Amerotyphlops, Anilios, Antillotyphlops, Cubatyphlops, Typhlops, Xerotyphlops), though these elements are fused in xenotyphlopids, gerrhopilids, and some typhlopids (e.g., Acutotyphlops, Indotyphlops, Ramphotyphlops, and Madatyphlops; see also Hawlitschek, Scherz, Webster, Ineich, & Glaw, 2021). The supratemporal is absent in all typhlopoids.…”

Blind snakes beneath the surface: Continuing the legacy of Richard Thomas

“…Hence the collection of detailed anatomical studies presented here are now valuable tools that can be used to facilitate ongoing taxonomic and systematic studies across scolecophidian genera, in addition to providing comparative data for future studies on blind snake anatomy and evolutionary history more broadly. Within this issue two new species have been described (Hawlitschek, Scherz, Webster, Ineich, & Glaw, 2021;Wynn, 2021), three other species have been resurrected from synonymy or elevated from subspecies to full species status, including the recognition of a new subspecies (Linares-Vargas et al, 2021;Wynn, 2021), and the generic status of four more species have been confirmed or reassigned (Hawlitschek et al, 2021;Koch et al, 2021;Wynn, 2021). Traditional taxonomic methods are skillfully employed to review the defining external morphological features of the genus Gerrhopilus, and to critically assess the generic status of all species currently recognized within this clade (Wynn, 2021).…”

“…Evaluation of various characteristics leads to the recommendation to elevate one subspecies to full species status, and also to the description of a new species from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Reaching beyond traditional taxonomic methods, Hawlitschek et al (2021) added DNA barcoding and CT data to external morphology data in order to assess the generic status of Madatyphlops species from the Comoros Archipelago. Not only was the generic status of one species confirmed, but an additional species was able to be described based on the findings of this work.…”