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

Addison H. Wynn; Robert P. Reynolds; Donald W. Buden; Marjorie Falanruw; Brian Lunch

Treesearch

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

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Addison H. Wynn, Robert P. Reynolds, Donald W. Buden, Marjorie Falanruw, Brian Lunch

Year:

2012

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

Zootaxa 3172: 39–54

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Abstract

Two new blind snakes in the genus Ramphotyphlops are described from Ulithi (R. hatmaliyeb sp. nov.) and Ant Atoll (R.adocetus sp. nov.) in the Caroline Islands, the first blind snake species known from Micronesia east of Palau (excludingRamphotyphlops braminus). Both species are unusual in being known only from small, low-lying atolls. They can be distinguishedfrom other Ramphotyphlops by the combination of 22 scale rows over the length of the body; a wedge-shapedsnout, without a keratinized keel; and a broad, pyriform (R. adocetus) or ovate (R. hatmaliyeb) rostral scale.

Keywords

Ant Atoll, arboreality, hemipenes, Oceania, Scolecophidia, Ulithi

Citation

Wynn, Addison H.; Reynolds, Robert P.; Buden, Donald W.; Falanruw, Marjorie; Lunch, Brian. 2012. The unexpected discovery of blind snakes (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) in Micronesia: two new species of Ramphotyphlops from the Caroline Islands. Zootaxa 3172: 39–54.