Two New Blind Snakes of the Typhlops ater Species Group from Papua New Guinea (Serpentes: Typhlopidae)

V. Wallach

Abstract


Two new blind snake species of the Typhlops ater group are described from low elevations of southeastern Papua New Guinea. Typhlops mcdowelli closely resembles T. depressiceps, differing in total middorsals, rostral shape, lateral snout profile, length/width ratio, tracheal lung type, and form of terminal spine. Typhlops fredparkeri is most similar externally to T. oligolepis and internally to T. inornatus; it differs from all other members of the T. ater group (except T. oligolepis) in possessing only 16 longitudinal scale rows. The internal anatomy is described for two paratypes of T. mcdowelli and the holotype of T. fredparkeri. An identification key to fourteen species of the T. ater group is presented and visceral data for 10 members are summarized. A key is provided for the thirteen species of the Typhlopidae currently known to inhabit Papua New Guinea.

Keywords


Typhlopidae; Typhlops mcdowelli; Typhlops fredparkeri; Typhlops ater group; viscera; Papua New Guinea

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-1996-3-2-107-118

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