Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 4323 No. 1: 20 Sept. 2017
Type: Article
Published: 2017-09-20
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.1.1
Page range: 1–24
Abstract views: 128
PDF downloaded: 2

Worms in the sand: Systematic revision of the Australian blindsnake Anilios leptosoma (Robb, 1972) species complex (Squamata: Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) from the Geraldton Sandplain, with description of two new species

Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew St, Welshpool, Western Australia, Australia
Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew St, Welshpool, Western Australia, Australia
South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Department Systematique et Evolution, Museum Natural d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris Cedex, France
Department Systematique et Evolution, Museum Natural d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris Cedex, France
Reptilia taxonomy morphology mtDNA nDNA cryptic species cryptic diversity Ramphotyphlops leptosoma Anilios systenos sp. nov. Anilios obtusifrons sp. nov. Western Australia

Abstract

The blindsnake genus Anilios (formerly Ramphotyphlops) is the largest and most diverse genus of snakes in Australia with 45 currently recognized species. Recent molecular genetic studies of the genus have identified high levels of cryptic diversity within many taxa, suggesting true species diversity is greatly underestimated. Anilios leptosoma is a slender blindsnake endemic to the mid-west of Western Australia. Although morphological variation has been identified within the species in the past, the systematics and true diversity remained unstudied. Here we use recent molecular data to guide a reappraisal of morphology in order to provide a taxonomic revision of the A. leptosoma species complex. We redescribe A. leptosoma and describe two new species that occur to the south of most of true A. leptosoma’s distribution: A. systenos sp. nov. and A. obtusifrons sp. nov. Anilios systenos sp. nov. is known from the Geraldton region with the furthest record only 100 km to the north-east, a very small range for a species of snake. Anilios obtusifrons sp. nov. has an even smaller distribution, as it is only known from a small coastal area south of Kalbarri and may represent a range-restricted taxa. All species are genetically divergent from each other and can be distinguished by consistent morphological characteristics, including the shape of the snout, the termination point of the rostral cleft and number of mid-body scale rows and ventral scales.

 

References

  1. Aplin, K.P. (1998) Three new blindsnakes (Squamata: Typhlopidae) from northwestern Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 19, 1–12.

    Aplin, K.P. & Donnellan, S.C. (1993) A new species of blindsnake, genus Ramphotyphlops (Typhlopidae, Squamata), from northwestern Western Australia, with a redescription of R. hamatus, Storr 1981. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 16, 243–256.

    Catullo, R. & Keogh, J.S. (2014) Aridification drove repeated episodes of diversification between Australian biomes: Evidence from a multi-locus phylogeny of Australian toadlets (Uperoleia: Myobatrachidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 79, 106–117.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2014.06.012

    Catullo, R.A., Lanfear, R., Doughty, P. & Keogh, J.S. (2014) The biogeographical boundaries of northern Australia: evidence from ecological niche models and a multi-locus phylogeny of Uperoleia toadlets (Anura: Myobatrachidae). Journal of Biogeography, 41, 659–672.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12230

    Cogger, H.G. (2014) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. 7th Edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, 1033 pp.

    Daudin, F.M. (1803) Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière des reptiles; ouvrage faisant suit à l’histoire naturelle Générale et particulière, composée par Leclerc de Buffon; et rédigé par C. S. Sonnini, miembre de plusieurs sociétés savantes. Tome septième. F. Dufart, Paris, 436 pp.

    Donnellan, S.C., Adams, M., Hutchinson, M. & Baverstock, P.R. (1993) The identification of cryptic species in the Australian herpetofauna: a high research priority. In: Lunney, D.& Ayres, D. (Eds.), Herpetology in Australia: A Diverse Discipline. Surrey Beatty, Sydney, pp. 121–126.

    Doughty, P. & Edwards, D. (2008) A new species of Arenophryne (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from the central coast of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 24, 121–131.

    Doughty, P., Ellis, R.J. & Oliver, P.M. (2016) Many things come in small packages: revision of the clawless geckos (Crenadactylus: Diplodactylidae) of Australia. Zootaxa, 4168 (2), 239–278.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4168.2.2

    Doughty, P., Kealley, L. & Donnellan, S.C. (2011) Revision of the Pygmy Spiny-tailed Skinks (Egernia depressa species-group) from Western Australia, with descriptions of three new species. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 26, 115–137.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.26(2).2011.115-137

    Doughty, P., Kealley, L., Fitch, A. & Donnellan, S.C. (2014) A new diminutive species of Varanus from the Dampier Peninsula, western Kimberley region, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 29, 128–140.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.29(2).2014.128-140

    Doughty, P., Oliver, P. & Adams, M. (2008) Systematics of stone geckos in the genus Diplodactylus (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae) from northwestern Australia, with a description of a new species from the Northwest Cape, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 24, 247–265.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.24(3).2008.247-265

    Doughty, P. & Oliver, P.M. (2013) Systematics of Diplodactylus (Squamata: Diplodactylidae) from the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot: redefinition of D. polyopthalmus and the description of two new species. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 28, 44–65.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.28(1).2013.044-065

    Doughty, P., Palmer, R., Sistrom, M.J., Bauer, A.M. & Donnellan, S.C. (2012) Two new species of Gehyra (Squamata: Gekkonidae) geckos from the north-west Kimberley region of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 27, 117–134.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.27(2).2012.117-134

    Edwards, D.L. (2007) Biogeography and speciation of a direct developing frog from the coastal arid zone of Western Australia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 45, 494–505.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.023

    Edwards, D.L., Keogh, J.S. & Knowles, L.L. (2012) Effects of vicariant barriers, habitat stability, population isolation and environmental features on species divergence in the south-western Australian coastal reptile community. Molecular Ecology, 21, 3809–3822.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05637.x

    Ellis, R.J. (2016) A new species of blindsnake (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae: Anilios) from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Herpetologica, 72, 271–278.
    https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-16-00007.1

    Gray, J.E. (1845) Catalogue of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum/ Edward Newman, London, xxviii + 289 pp.

    Greer, A. (1997) The Biology and Evolution of Australian Snakes. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton, NSW, 358 pp.

    Harvey, M.S. (2002) Short-range endemism among the Australian fauna: some examples from non-marine environments. Invertebrate Systematics, 16, 555–570.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/IS02009

    Hedges, S.B., Marion, A.B., Lipp, K.M., Marin, J. & Vidal, N. (2014) A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata). Caribbean Herpetology, 49, 1–61.

    Hocking, R.M., Moors, H.T. & Van De Graaff, W.J.E. (1987) Geology of the Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. In: Geological Survey of Western Australia Bulletin. Vol. 133. Department of Mines, Perth, pp. i–xiv + 1–288.

    Horner, P. & Adams, M. (2007) A molecular systematic assessment of species boundaries in Australian Cryptoblepharus (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) - a case study for the combined use of allozymes and morphology to explore cryptic biodiversity. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 3 (Supplement), 1–19.

    IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee (2017) Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 12. Gland, Switzerland: International Commission for Conservation of Nature. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 20 November 2016)

    Maddock, S.T., Ellis, R.J., Doughty, P., Smith, L.A. & Wüster, W. (2015) A new species of death adder (Acanthophis: Serpentes: Elapidae) from north-western Australia. Zootaxa, 4007 (3), 301–326.
    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4007.3.1

    Marin, J., Donnellan, S.C., Hedges, B., Puillandre, N., Aplin, K.P., Doughty, P., Hutchinson, M.N., Couloux, A. & Vidal, N. (2013a) Hidden species diversity of Australian burrowing snakes (Ramphotyphlops). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 110, 427–441.
    https://doi.org/10.2307/1563076

    Marin, J., Donnellan, S.C., Hedges, S.B., Doughty, P., Hutchinson, M.N., Cruaud, C. & Vidal, N. (2013b) Tracing the history and biogeography of the Australian blindsnake radiation. Journal of Biogeography, 40, 928–937.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12045

    Maryan, B., Adams, M. & Aplin, K.P. (2015) Taxonomic resolution of the Aprasia repens species-group (Squamata: Pygopodidae) from the Geraldton Sandplains: a description of a new species and additional mainland records of A. clairae. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 30, 12–32.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.30(1).2015.012-032

    Maryan, B., Bush, B.G. & Adams, M. (2013a) Morphological and molecular assessment of Aprasia fusca and A. rostrata (Squamata: Pygopodidae), with a description of a new species from the Lake MacLeod region, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 28, 144–163.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.28(2).2013.144-163

    Maryan, B., How, R.A. & Adams, M. (2013b) A new species of the Aprasia repens species-group (Squamata: Pygopodidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 28, 30–43.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.28(1).2013.030-043

    McDiarmid, R.W., Campbell, J.A. & Toure, T.S.A. (1999) Snake Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Vol. 1. Herpetologists' League, Washington, D.C., 511 pp.

    Mecke, S., Doughty, P. & Donnellan, S.C. (2009) A new species of Eremiascincus (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from the Great Sandy Desert and Pilbara coast, Western Australia and reassignment of eight species from Glaphyromorphus to Eremiascincus. Zootaxa, 2246, 1–20.

    Mecke, S., Doughty, P. & Donnellan, S.C. (2013) Redescription of Eremiascincus fasciolatus (Gunther, 1867) (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) with clarification of its synonyms and the description of a new species. Zootaxa, 3701 (5), 473–517. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3701.5.1

    Melville, J., Shoo, L.P. & Doughty, P. (2008) Phylogenetic relationships of the heath dragons (Rankinia adelaidensis and R. parviceps) from the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot. Australian Journal of Zoology, 56, 159–171.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO07069

    Moritz, C., Fujita, M., Rosauer, D., Agudo, R., Bourke, G., Doughty, P., Palmer, R., Pepper, M., Potter, S., Pratt, R., Scott, M., Tonione, M. & Donnellan, S. (2016) Multilocus phylogeography reveals nested endemism in a gecko across the monsoonal tropics of Australia. Molecular Ecology, 25, 1354–1366.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13511

    Oliver, P., Adams, M. & Doughty, P. (2010) Molecular evidence for ten species and Oligo-Miocene vicariance within a nominal Australian gecko species (Crenadactylus ocellatus, Diplodactylidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10 (386), 1–11.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-10-386

    Oliver, P., Bauer, A.M., Greenbaum, E., Jackman, T. & Hobbie, T. (2012a) Molecular phylogenetics of the arboreal Australian gecko genus Oedura Gray 1842 (Gekkota: Diplodactylidae): another plesiomorphic grade? Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 63, 255–264.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2011.12.013

    Oliver, P., Keogh, J.S. & Moritz, C. (2014a) New approaches to cataloguing and understanding evolutionary diversity: a perspective from Australian herpetology. Australian Journal of Zoology, 62, 417-430.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO14091

    Oliver, P.M., Couper, P.J. & Pepper, M. (2014b) Independent transitions between monsoonal and arid biomes revealed by systematic revision of a complex of Australian geckos (Diplodactylus: Diplodactylidae). PLoS ONE, 9, e111895.
    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111895

    Oliver, P.M. & Doughty, P. (2016) Systematic revision of the marbled velvet geckos (Oedura marmorata species complex, Diplodactylidae) from the Australian arid and semi-arid zones. Zootaxa, 4088 (2), 151–176.
    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4088.2.1

    Oliver, P.M., Doughty, P. & Palmer, R. (2012b) Hidden biodiversity in rare northern Australian vertebrates: the case of the clawless gecko (Crenadactylus, Diplodactylidae) of the Kimberley. Wildlife Research, 39, 429–435.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/WR12024

    Oliver, P.M., Hutchinson, M.N. & Cooper, S.J.B. (2007) Phylogenetic relationships in the lizard genus Diplodactylus Gray and resurrection of Lucasium Wermuth (Gekkota, Diplodactylidae). Australian Journal of Zoology, 55, 197–210.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO07008

    Oliver, P.M., Laver, R.J., Melville, J. & Doughty, P. (2014c) A new species of velvet gecko (Oedura: Diplodactylidae) from the limestone ranges of the southern Kimberley, Western Australia. Zootaxa, 3873 (1), 49–61.
    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3873.1.4

    Oliver, P.M., Smith, K.L., Laver, R.J., Doughty, P. & Adams, M. (2014d) Contrasting patterns of persistence and diversification in vicars of a widespread Australian lizard lineage (the Oedura marmorata complex). Journal of Biogeography, 41, 2068–2079.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12364

    Pepper, M., Doughty, P., Arculus, R. & Keogh, J.S. (2008) Landforms predict phylogenetic structure on one of the world's most ancient surfaces. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 8, (152), 1–8.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-8-152

    Pepper, M., Doughty, P., Hutchinson, M.N. & Keogh, J.S. (2011a) Ancient drainages divide cryptic species in Australia's arid zone: morphological and multi-gene evidence for four new species of Beaked Geckos (Rhynchoedura). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 61, 810–822.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2011.08.012

    Pepper, M., Doughty, P. & Keogh, J.S. (2006) Molecular phylogeny and phylogeography of the Australian Diplodactylus stenodactylus (Gekkota; Reptilia) species-group based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes reveals an ancient split between Pilbara and non-Pilbara D. stenodactylus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 41, 539–555.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.028

    Pepper, M., Fujita, M.K., Moritz, C. & Keogh, J.S. (2011b) Palaeclimate change drive diversification among isolated mountain refugia in the Australian arid zone. Molecular Ecology, 20, 1529–1545.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05036.x

    Pepper, M. & Keogh, J.S. (2014) Biogeography of the Kimberley, Western Australia: a review of landscape evolution and biotic response in an ancient refugium. Journal of Biogeography, 41, 1143–1455.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12324

    Potter, S., Bragg, J.G., Peter, B.M., Bi, K. & Moritz, C. (2016) Phylogenomics at the tips: inferring lineages and their demographic history in a tropical lizard, Carlia amax. Molecular Ecology, 25, 1367–1380.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13546

    Pyron, R.A. & Wallach, V. (2014) Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Zootaxa, 3829 (1), 1–81.
    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3829.1.1

    Rabosky, D.L., Aplin, K.P., Donnellan, S.C. & Hedges, S.B. (2004) Molecular phylogeny of blindsnakes (Ramphotyphlops) from Western Australia and resurrection of Ramphotyphlops bicolor (Peters, 1857). Australian Journal of Zoology, 52, 531–548.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO04045

    Rix, M.G., Edwards, D.L., Byrne, M., Harvey, M.S., Joseph, L. & Roberts, J.D. (2015). Biogeography and speciation of terrestrial fauna in the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot. Biological Reviews, 90, 762–793.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12132

    Robb, J. (1960) The internal anatomy of Typhlops Schneider (Reptilia). Australian Journal of Zoology, 8, 181–216.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO9600181

    Robb, J. (1966) The generic status of the Australasian Typhlops (Reptilia: Squamata). Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 13, 657–679.

    Robb, J. (1972) A new species of the genus Ramphotyphlops (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 55, 39–40.

    Savage, J.M. & Boundy, J. (2012) On the type species of the snake generic name Anilios Gray, 1845 (Serpentes: Typhlopidae). Herpetological Review, 43, 537–538.

    Shea, G.M. (2015) A new species of Anilios (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) from central Australia. Zootaxa, 4033 (1), 103–116.
    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4033.1.5

    Shea, G.M. & Horner, P. (1996) A new species of Ramphotyphlops (Sqamata: Typhlopidae) from the Darwin area, with notes on two similar species from northern Australia. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 13, 53–60.

    Smith, L.A. & Adams, M. (2007) Revision of the Lerista muelleri species-group (Lacertilia: Scincidae) in Western Australia, with a redescription of L.muelleri (Fischer, 1881) and the description of nine new species. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 23, 309–357.
    https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.23(4).2007.309-357

    Storr, G.M. (1981) The genus Ramphotyphlops (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) in Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 9, 235–371.

    Storr, G.M., Smith, L.A. & Johnstone, R.E. (2002) Snakes of Western Australia. Revised Edition. Western Australian Museum, Perth, xiii + 309 pp.

    Thackway, R. & Cresswell, I.D. (1995) An interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia: a framework for setting priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperation Program. Version 4.0. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Reserve Systems Unit, Canberra.

    Venchi, A., Wilson, S.K. & Borsboom, A.C. (2015) A new blind snake (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from an endangered habitat in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa, 3990 (2), 272–278.
    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3990.2.7

    Vidal, N., Marin, J., Morini, M., Donnellan, S., Branch, W.R., Thomas, R., Vences, M., Wynn, A., Cruaud, C. & Hedges, S.B. (2010) Blindsnake evolutionary tree reveals long history on Gondwana. Biology Letters, 6, 558–561.
    https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2010.0220

    Waite, E.R. (1918) Review of the Australian Blind Snakes (Family Typhlopidae). Records of the South Australian Museum, 1, 1–34.

    Wallach, V. (1993) The supralabial imbrication pattern of the Typhlopoidea (Reptilia: Serpentes). Journal of Herpetology, 27, 214–218.
    https://doi.org/10.2307/1564940

    Wallach, V. (2003) Scolecophidia miscellanea. Hamadryad, 27, 222–240.

    Wallach, V., Williams, K.L. & Boundy, J. (2014) Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1209 pp.

    Wilson, S.K. & Swan, G. (2013) A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. 4th Edition. New Holland Publishing, Chatswood, 592 pp.