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Issue: Vol. 1932 No. 1: 14 Nov. 2008
Type: Article
Published: 2008-11-14
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1932.1.2
Page range: 18–26
Abstract views: 42
PDF downloaded: 18

The largest blindsnake in Mesoamerica: a new species of Typhlops (Squamata: Typhlopidae) from an isolated karstic mountain in Honduras

School of Natural Resources and Environment, and Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7800, USA Instituto Regional de Biodiversidad (IRBio), Centro Zamorano de Biodiversidad, Escuela Agrícola Panamericana Zamorano, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Instituto Regional de Biodiversidad (IRBio), Centro Zamorano de Biodiversidad, Escuela Agrícola Panamericana Zamorano, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Voluntario de Cuerpo de Paz, San Isidro, Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Departamento de Cortés, Honduras
Departamento de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Reptilia Cloud forest Karst Nuclear Central America Parque Nacional Montaña de Santa Bárbara Scolecophidia Serpentes

Abstract

A distinctive new species of Typhlops is described from Parque Nacional Montaña de Santa Bárbara, 1550 m elevation, Departamento de Santa Bárbara, Honduras. The holotype and only known specimen of this new taxon is the largest specimen of the genus thus far reported from Mexico and Central America, and is further differentiated from all other Mesoamerican Typhlops by having 22–22–22 scales around the body and by having a dark brownish gray dorsum with a well-defined pale yellowish gray to immaculate white ventral coloration. This species is a member of the Caribbean Arc Group of Typhlops. An updated key to the Typhlopidae of Mesoamerica is provided.

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