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

Year: 2012

Type: article

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 dis-tinguished from other Ramphotyphlops by the combination of 22 scale rows over the length of the body; a wedge-shaped snout, without a keratinized keel; and a broad, pyriform (R. adocetus) or ovate (R. hatmaliyeb) rostral scale.

Source: Zootaxa

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3172.1.3

Authors: ADDISON H. WYNN, ROBERT P. REYNOLDS, DONALD W. BUDEN, MARJORIE FALANRUW, BRIAN LYNCH

Institutions: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, United States Geological Survey, College of Micronesia-FSM, US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station

Language: English

Topic: Amphibian and Reptile Biology

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W1479918338

FWCI: 1.067

Cites: 21

Cited by: 9

Related to: 10