The unexpected discovery of blind snakes (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) in Micronesia: two new species of Ramphotyphlops from the Caroline Islands

Wynn, Addison H.; Reynolds, Robert P.; Buden, Donald W.; Falanruw, Marjorie C.; Lynch, B.

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3172.1.3

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…They comprise 402 named species segregated in five families: Anomalepididae, Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae, Xenotyphlopidae, and Gerrhopilidae (Vidal et al ., ; Uetz et al ., ). The 42 currently recognized Australian scolecophidian species all belong to Ramphotyphlops , a genus of 66 species distributed across South and South‐east Asia, Australasia, and Melanesia (as far east as Fiji, and across the Caroline Islands from Palau to Pohnpei), and comprise one of the least‐known elements of the Australian herpetofauna (Rabosky et al ., ; Wynn et al ., ). Previous molecular genetic studies on scolecophidian snakes, including members of the families Typhlopidae and Leptotyphlopidae, have suggested a high level of hidden diversity, as indicated by several recognized species being paraphyletic and polyphyletic, and harbouring deep divergences (Hedges & Thomas, ; Aplin & Donnellan, ; Rabosky et al ., ; Hedges, ; Adalsteinsson et al ., ; Kornilios et al ., ; Marin et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Hidden species diversity of Australian burrowing snakes (Ramphotyphlops)

Marin

Donnellan²,

Puillandre

et al. 2013

Biol J Linn Soc Lond

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The worm-like snakes (Scolecophidia; approximately 400 nominal extant species) have a conservative morphology and are among the most poorly-known terrestrial vertebrates. Although molecular evidence has helped determine their higher-level relationships, such data have rarely been used to discriminate among species. We generated a molecular data set for the continental Australian blindsnakes (genus Ramphotyphlops) to determine the concordance of molecular and morphological information in the taxonomic recognition of species. Our dataset included 741 specimens morphologically attributed to 27 nominal Ramphotyphlops species. We proposed species hypotheses (SHs) after analysis of sequences from a variable mitochondrial gene (cytochrome b) and examined these SHs with additional evidence from a nuclear gene (prolactin receptor) and geographical data. Although the nuclear marker was not as fast-evolving and discriminating as the mitochondrial marker, there was congruence among the mitochondrial, nuclear, and geographical data, suggesting that the actual number of species is at least two times the current number of recognized, nominal species. Several biogeographical barriers and complex phytogeographical and geological patterns appeared to be involved in the division of some burrowing snake populations and, by consequence, in their diversification and speciation through isolation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Hidden species diversity of Australian burrowing snakes (Ramphotyphlops)

Marin

Donnellan²,

Puillandre

et al. 2013

Biol J Linn Soc Lond

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“…Major radiations occur in the New World tropics, Africa, Madagascar, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia (Vitt & Caldwell 2009). New species are commonly reported from all of these areas (Wallach 1993a;Wynn & Leviton 1993;Khan 1999;2001;Franzen & Wallach 2002;Broadley & Wallach 2007;Thomas & Hedges 2007;Wynn et al 2012;Marin et al 2013;Pyron et al 2013a, etc. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

<strong>Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence</strong>

Pyron

Wallach²

2014

Zootaxa

109

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The blindsnake superfamily Typhlopoidea (Gerrhopilidae, Typhlopidae, and Xenotyphlopidae) is a diverse, widespread part of the global snake fauna. A recent systematic revision based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and some morphological evidence presented a preliminary solution to the non-monophyly of many previously recognized genera, but additional clarification is needed regarding the recognition of some species and genera. We rectify these problems here with a new molecular phylogenetic analysis including 95 of the 275 currently recognized, extant typhlopoids, incorporating both nuclear and mitochondrial loci. We supplement this with data on the external, visceral, and hemipenial morphology of nearly all species to generate a revised classification for Typhlopoidea. Based on morphological data, we re-assign Cathetorhinus from Typhlopidae to Gerrhopilidae. Xenotyphlopidae maintains its current contents (Xenotyphlops). In Typhlopidae, one monotypic genus is synonymized with its larger sister-group as it cannot be unambiguously diagnosed morphologically (Sundatyphlops with Anilios), and two genera are synonymizedwith Typhlops (Antillotyphlops and Cubatyphlops), as they are not reciprocally monophyletic. The genus Asiatyphylops is renamed Argyrophis, the senior synonym for the group. We erect one new genus (Lemuriatyphlops) for a phylogenetically distinct species-group in Asiatyphlopinae. Fourteen of eighteen recognized typhlopid genera are maintained in four subfamilies: Afrotyphlopinae (Afrotyphlops, Grypotyphlops [re-assigned from Asiatyphlopinae], Letheobia, and Rhinotyphlops), Asiatyphlopinae (Acutotyphlops, Anilios, Cyclotyphlops, Indotyphlops, Malayotyphlops, Ramphotyphlops, and Xerotyphlops), Madatyphlopinae (Madatyphlops), and Typhlopinae (Amerotyphlops and Typhlops), some with altered contents. Diagnoses based on morphology are provided for all 19 typhlopoid genera, accounting for all 275 species. This taxonomy provides a robust platform for future revisions and description of new species.

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“…Supralabial imbrication patterns follow Wallach (1993). Comparisons to other species are based primarily on data provided in Peters (1878), Boulenger (1893), McDowell (1974, Wallach (1996), Shea and Wallach (2000), and Wynn et al (2012), as well as to supplementary museum specimens (Appendix).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…obs.) is sufficiently few that the pattern can readily be interpreted as a wide brown dorsal stripe (Wynn et al, 2012). In contrast, the brown dorsal and lateral scale rows in R. erebus are subtended by rows of mixed yellow and brown scales that obscure any interpretation of the dorsal pattern as a clear stripe (Fig.…”

Section: Description Of the Holotype (Bpbm 39683)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A new species of Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Typhlopidae) in the R. flaviventer Group from Woodlark Island, Papua New Guinea

Kraus

2023

JAD

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I describe a new species of blindsnake of the genus Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843, from Woodlark Island, off the southeastern tip of New Guinea. The new species is a member of the R. flaviventer (Peters, 1864) group and is characterized by a unique combination of number of longitudinal scale rows, details of the shape of the rostral scale, color pattern, and shape of the tail spine. The nearest related species (R. depressus Peters, 1880) in this group occurs 380 km to the northeast from the new species, and the remaining species of the group lie no closer than 2570 km distant. The new species seems most similar morphologically to relatives from far western New Guinea, but this could be due to homoplasy or plesiomorphy. The species seems common in the widespread mature secondary forest that occurs across the island, but non-traditional land tenure and repeated outside proposals to deforest much of the island pose a continuing series of threats to this and other endemic species on Woodlark.

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The unexpected discovery of blind snakes (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) in Micronesia: two new species of Ramphotyphlops from the Caroline Islands

Cited by 8 publications

References 14 publications

Hidden species diversity of Australian burrowing snakes (Ramphotyphlops)

Hidden species diversity of Australian burrowing snakes (Ramphotyphlops)

<strong>Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence</strong>

A new species of Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Typhlopidae) in the R. flaviventer Group from Woodlark Island, Papua New Guinea

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