Typhlops anchaurus Thomas & Hedges, 2007, new species
Creators: name: Thomas, Richard
name: Hedges, Blair
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Typhlopidae
Typhlops
Typhlops anchaurus

description: Typhlops anchaurus new species (Fig. 8 J)
Holotype: MNHNCu 4553 (field tag number 190563), collected from within 1 km of Cueva de Agua (2.5 km airline NW Maisí), Guantánamo Province, Cuba on 31 July 1989 by Richard Thomas.
Diagnosis: A slender, moderate sized, and lightly pigmented species of the Typhlops biminiensis group distinguished from T. biminiensis in having a rostral with an acuminate posterior edge, not broadly rounded, and a more slender body (TL/MBD 63 versus 39–51). From T. arator, it differs in having 24–22 scale rows rather than 26–24 rows, in having fewer middorsal scales (514 versus 578–579), and in being more slender (TL/MBD 63 versus 51–55 in T. arator). From T. perimychus, it differs in having a greater number of middorsal scales (514 versus 453–496), a well­developed rostral protuberance (umbo), and a more slender body (TL/ MBD 63 versus 41–59). From T. anousius, it differs in having scale row reduction at 31% TL rather than 2% TL and in having a relatively smaller upper arm of the anterior nasal (ANTNAS/RW1 = 0.36 versus 0.40–0.64 in T. anousius). The latter trait also distinguishes T. anchaurus from T. notorachius (0.42–0.53) and T. contorhinus (0.49). Additionally, T. anchaurus differs from T. notorachius in having a more slender body (TL/ MBD 63 versus 45–57), and a well­developed umbo. From T. contorhinus, it also differs in having a relatively larger rostral (Fig. 10 A), a smaller preocular apical diameter (Fig. 10 C), relatively large eyes, and a smaller rostral indent (Fig. 10 F).
Description: Snout tapering, somewhat pointed. Rostral broad and initially straight sided but curving smoothly towards apex (RW1/RL1 0.87), not flared on apex; umbo prominent and ventrally protuberant; no labial flare. Anterior nasal width as a proportion of RW1 0.36. Preocular angle 110°, apex rounded; lower portion contacting labials 2 and 3 of upper labial series on the left but supralabial 3 only on the right. OL 1/2 height, OS 0.23. Rostronasal pattern strongly divergent. Postocular low and relatively short, about 2 times higher than long. First parietal wide and wing­like, spanning 2. No second parietal. TL 240 mm. TL/TA 48. TL/MBD 63. Middorsal scales 514. Scale rows 24 reducing to 22 at 31% TL. Coloration bicolor but pigment very light, ending ventrad by dropping out of scales; seven pigmented scale rows along the body.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality at the extreme eastern tip of Cuba (Fig. 11).
Etymology: From the Greek, anchauros, greeting the dawn, in reference to the type locality at the extreme eastern tip of Cuba.
The last new species having affinities with T. biminiensis occurs in south­central Cuba. It may be known as
description: Published as part of Thomas, Richard & Hedges, Blair, 2007, Eleven new species of snakes of the genus Typhlops (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from Hispaniola and Cuba, pp. 1-26 in Zootaxa 1400 on pages 22-23, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.175414