Van Wallach

Global diversity of snakes (Serpentes; Reptilia) in freshwater

A list of the snake species inhabiting freshwaters is provided. It includes 153 species, which represents about 5% of all known snakes. These freshwater snakes belong to 44 genera distributed among the families Acrochordidae, Boidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Homalopsidae and Viperidae. The highest diversities in freshwater snakes are found in the Oriental (64 species) and Neotropical (39 species) Regions. Conservation actions are needed for several overcollected species with a limited distribution.

A new blind snake (Serpentes : Typhlopidae) from montane forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania : short communication

The African Typhlopidae were last revised by Roux-Esteve (1974). When the various Tanzanian forms were listed by Broadley & Howell (1991), two specimens from the Uluguru and Ukaguru Mountains were assigned to Typhlops gierrai Mocquard.

Remarkable New Worm Snake (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae) from the East African Coast

A new species of Leptotyphlops is described on the basis of seven specimens from coastal Kenya and Tanzania. Leptotyphlops macrops is distinguished from all other species in the genus by the combination of a very large eye beneath a dome in the ocular shield and the presence of a unipartite testis. Leptotyphlops macrops is provisionally included in the L. longicaudus group and seems to be most closely related to L. emini, which on the basis of its paired parietal bones is a valid species rather than a synonym of L. nigricans (List, 1966). The known specimens of L. macrops were all associated with patches of coastal forest.

TYPHLOPS LAZELLI, A NEW SPECIES OF CHINESE BLINDSNAKE FROM HONG KONG (SERPENTES: TYPHLOPIDAE)

Abstract A new species of blindsnake is described from Hong Kong, China, bringing the total number of scolecophidian species there to three and the number of endemic snakes to three. This species is characterized by having 18 scale rows, a T-V supralabial imbrication pattern, and a unicameral tracheal lung, and it appears to be a member of the Typhlops porrectus species group of South and Southeast Asia.

Letheobia pauwelsi , a new species of blindsnake from Gabon (Serpentes : Typhlopidae) : original article

Abstract A new species of African blindsnake related to western Letheobia caecus and eastern L. acutirostratus is described from Gabon. It differs from both species in having an hourglass dorsal rostral shape, a ventrally angled corneal cutting edge, and a unicameral right lung. Externally it resembles L. caecus but differs in lacking rostral papillae, lacking a longitudinally enlarged frontal, lacking extended supranasals, and having the inferior nasal suture contacting the first supralabial. From L. acutirostratus it differs in having 22 midbody scale rows, a transversely elongated frontal, and frontal‐supranasal contact. Internally it differs significantly from both species in nearly all of the visceral organ proportions.

PRESENCE OF A LEFT LUNG IN THE TYPHLOPIDAE (REPTILIA: SERPENTES)

ABSTRACT Following a survey of 185 scolecophidians, the presence of a left lung was found in only ten typhlopids, namely Rhinotyphlops anomalus, R. schlegelii, Typhlops angolensis, T. bibronii, T. elegans, T. fomasinii, T. punctatus, T. rondoensis, T. schmidti and T. steinhausi. The phylogenetic significance of these findings is briefly discussed.

A catalogue and systematic overview of the shield-tailed snakes (Serpentes: Uropeltidae)

ABSTRACT We present a catalogue and systematic overview of Uropeltidae Müller, 1832 based on both new and previously published molecular and morphological data, and a new molecular phylogenetic analysis. We support the monophyly and distinctiveness of Brachyophidium Wall, 1921, Melanophidium Günther, 1864, Platyplectrurus Günther, 1868, Pseudoplectrurus Boulenger, 1890, and Teretrurus Beddome, 1886. We move Uropeltis melanogaster (Gray, 1858), U. phillipsi (Nicholls, 1929), and Pseudotyphlops Schlegel, 1839 to Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820, and re-name Pseudotyphlops philippinus (Müller, 1832) as R. saffragamus (Kelaart, 1853), and U. smithi Gans, 1966 as U. grandis (Beddome, 1867). Thanks to these changes, the taxonomy of all these genera is based on monophyletic entities. Diagnoses based on meristic and mensural characters for external and internal anatomy are provided for the family and all genera, and accounts are given for all currently recognized species, summarizing known morphological variation. We note several taxa that continue to be of uncertain phylogenetic affinity, and outline necessary future studies of variation in systematically valuable characters such as rostral and tail morphology. Cryptic variation is likely present in many species, and additional collection of specimens and DNA-sequence data will likely be needed to provide conclusive resolution for remaining taxonomic issues. Numerous questions remain for the systematics of Uropeltidae, and we hope that this study will provide a platform for ongoing research into the group, including the description of cryptic species, clarifying the phylogenetic placement of some remaining taxa, and quantifying the range of intra- and inter-specific variation in crucial morphological characters.

Aprosdoketophis andreonei, a new genus and species of snake from Somalia (Serpentes: Colubridae: Boiginae)

Abstract An aglyphous colubroid snake representing a new genus and species is described from Somalia. It is a terrestrial form that inhabits xerophytic woodlands. A comparison with both African and extralimital genera indicates that its relationships lie with the opisthoglyph Boiginae and that its closest relative is Crotaphopeltis.

Figure 3. Approximate Distribution Maps For Species From 7 In Systematics Of The Blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) Based On Molecular And Morphological Evidence

FIGURE 3. Approximate distribution maps for species from 7 of 19 typhlopoid genera: Grypotyphlops, Letheobia, Lemuriatyphlops, Cyclotyphlops, Acutotyphlops, Afrotyphlops, and Ramphotyphlops.