A typhlopid hotspot in the tropics: increased blindsnake diversity in the Kimberley region of Western Australia with the description of a new Anilios species (Serpentes: Typhlopidae)

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 4 years ago

ABSTRACT – The blindsnake genus Anilios is the most speciose genus of Australian snakes and represents one of the most species rich genera of snakes globally. Morphological and molecular studies continue to highlight further diversity within the genus, suggesting true species diversity is far greater than currently known. A morphologically distinct new species of blindsnake, Anilios vagurima sp. nov., is described from a single specimen collected from Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberley region of Western Australia in 2006. The species differs from all other Anilios species in possessing 22 midbody scale rows, 542 dorsal body scales, head moderately trilobed in dorsal view, rounded in profile view, and a unique configuration of the nasal cleft. The cleft originates at the second supralabial and arcs anterodorsally to the nostril and then posterodorsally to lie nearly parallel to rostral-nasal suture within the apex of nasal scale, where it is clearly visible in dorsal view.