[Herpetology • 2024] Liotyphlops pino • A New Species of the genus Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 (Serpentes: Anomalepididae) from the Caribbean coast of Honduras

 

Liotyphlops pino

Antúnez-Fonseca, Ramos-Galdámez, Solís, Díaz-Ricaurte & Wilson, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5543.1.5 

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Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Liotyphlops from the Caribbean coast of Honduras in Nuclear Mesoamerica, a genus previously known only from Isthmian Mesoamerica and northern, central, and eastern South America. Our description is based on a single specimen found by chance. The new species differs from other congeners by unique combination of external morphological characteristics, specifically by the presence of three scales on the first vertical row of the dorsals, three supralabial scales, 425 dorsal scales, and dorsals in 22 series of uniformly pigmented scales across the body. The type locality represents the northernmost record for the genus and is located 920 km (airline) northwest of the previous record for Liotyphlops albirostris in Costa Rica. We developed an identification key for the genus and discussed natural history and biogeographical aspects of Liotyphlops, including the species described here.

Reptilia, Distribution, external morphology, fossorial snakes, Pico Bonito National Park, species diversity

 

Cristopher A. Antúnez-Fonseca, Josue Ramos-Galdámez, José Mario Solís, Juan C. Díaz-Ricaurte and Larry David Wilson. 2024. A New Species of the genus Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 (Serpentes: Anomalepididae) from the Caribbean coast of Honduras.  Zootaxa. 5543(1); 97-110. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5543.1.5 

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[Herpetology • 2023] More than Meets No Eyes: Taxonomic Status of A Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 (Serpentes: Anomalepididae) Blindsnake from the Atlantic Rainforest

in Entiauspe-Neto, Franco, Koch, Tiutenko, Wingert & Borges-Martins, 2023.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2023.01.003 

 Researchgate.net/publication/367296550

Abstract

Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 is an anomalepidid blindsnake genus that encompasses 12 species, widely distributed in Central and South America. In this study, we evaluate the taxonomic status of Liotyphlops sousai Santos & Reis, 2018, a species described based on a single specimen from the Atlantic Rainforest of southern Brazil, and after analyzing evidences based upon molecular systematics, external morphology and osteology, we propose its synonymy with Liotyphlops beui (Amaral, 1924), a common and widely distributed Anomalepidid species. We also provide comments and recommendations on the taxonomy of Liotyphlops, assessing the risks associated with describing a new species based on small type series.

Keywords: Atlantic forest, Neotropical, Osteology, Phylogeny, Reptilia, Scolecophidia, Synonymy

Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and Ecological Niche Models delimited based on Liotyphlops from the Atlantic Rainforest biome in South America.
A) SP01, based on topotypical specimens and an additional series of Liotyphlops beui from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil; B) SP02, based on specimens of Liotyphlops caissara from lowland Atlantic Rainforest of coastal southeastern Brazil;
C) SP03, based on the holotype of Liotyphlops sousai from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil; D) SP04, based on the holotype and an additional specimen of Liotyphlops ternetzii from the Cerrado of Brazil and Paraguay;
E) SP05, based on the holotype of Liotyphlops trefauti from the Atlantic Rainforest of northeastern Brazil; F) SP06, based on a specimen of Liotyphlops wilderi from montane Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil.

 Head scalation of Liotyphlops beui (A, MCZ-R 17842, paratype) from Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, and Liotyphlops sousai (B, UFRGS 6274, holotype), from Passos Maia, Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil.

 

Omar M. Entiauspe-Neto, Francisco L. Franco, Claudia Koch, Arthur Tiutenko, Juliana M. Wingert and Márcio Borges-Martins. 2023. More than Meets No Eyes: Taxonomic Status of A Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 (Serpentes: Anomalepididae) Blindsnake from the Atlantic Rainforest. Zoologischer Anzeiger. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2023.01.003

  Researchgate.net/publication/367296550_Taxonomic_status_of_Liotyphlops_blindsnake_from_the_Atlantic_Rainforest

[Herpetology • 2023] Liotyphlops palauophis • A New Species of the genus Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 (Serpentes: Anomalepididae) from Colombia and the Synonymization of Liotyphlops beui (Amaral, 1924) with Liotyphlops ternetzii (Boulenger, 1896)

Liotyphlops palauophis  

Marra Santos, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1146.94607

Abstract

A new species of Liotyphlops Peters, 1881, Liotyphlops palauophis sp. nov., is described from the neighborhoods of Bogota, Colombia from a previous syntype of L. anops, and a lectotype is designated for the latter species. The new species is readily distinguished from congeners by having the frontal scale divided (vs single), and a central foramen in the parabasisphenoid (vs foramen absent). High-resolution x-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) was used to study and present data on the skull of the holotype of the new species, the lectotype of L. anops, and the holotype of L. ternetzii. Additionally, extensive study of skull characters and external morphology failed to find diagnostic characters to differentiate L. beui and L. ternetzii, and the former is here considered a junior synonym of L. ternetzii, which is also redescribed.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Liotyphlops palauophis sp. nov., neotropics, reptiles, Scolecophidia, taxonomy

Holotype of Liotyphlops palauophis sp. nov., AMNH R-9550, 361.2 mm TL, Colombia, neighborhood of Bogota. Scale bar: 5 mm.

 Liotyphlops palauophis sp. nov.

  

Diagnosis: Liotyphlops palauophis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other Liotyphlops by having the frontal scale divided (vs single) and a central foramen in the parabasisphenoid (vs foramen absent). It is further distinguished from L. albirostris, L. argaleus, L. bondensis, L. caissara, L. haadi, L. trefauti, and L. wilderi in having two scales (vs one scale) contacting the posterior edge of the nasal between the second supralabial and prefrontal. It is further distinguished from L. beui, L. schubarti, L. taylori, and L. ternetzii by having four (vs three) scales contacting the posterior edge of the prefrontal. It is distinguished from L. anops by having 28/26/26 scales around the body and 19 subcaudal scales (vs 26/24/24 scales around the body and 12–14 subcaudal scales), and from L. sousai in having 573 dorsal scales and 561 ventral scales (vs 439 dorsal scales and 427 ventral scales).

Dorsal (top), lateral (center), and ventral (bottom) views of the head of Liotyphlops palauophis sp. nov., AMNH R-9550, holotype. Scale bar: 1 mm.

 

Etymology: The species name is in honor of Alfredo Palau Peña (June 10, 1969–August 8, 2020), a Brazilian herpetologist and my friend, who was killed by the COVID-19 virus. A combination of his name Palau and the Greek ophis, meaning snake.

 

Fidélis Júnio Marra Santos. 2023. A New Species of the genus Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 (Serpentes, Anomalepididae) from Colombia and the Synonymization of Liotyphlops beui (Amaral, 1924) with Liotyphlops ternetzii (Boulenger, 1896). ZooKeys. 1146: 87-114. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1146.94607