Species Anilios leptosoma (Robb, 1972)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Ramphotyphlops leptosoma Robb, J. 1972. A new species of the genus Rhamphotyphlops (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 55: 39-40 [39].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM R29623, 'The Loop', lower Murchison River, WA.

 

Generic Combinations

• Austrotyphlops leptosoma (Robb, 1972).
• Anilios leptosoma (Robb, 1972). —
  Pyron, R.A. & Wallach, V. 2014. Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Zootaxa 3829: 1-81

 

Introduction

McDiarmid et al. (1999) listed Ramphotyphlops leptosomus, in view of the masculine gender of the genus.
Eventually, Hedges et al. (2014) and Pyron & Wallach (2014), proposed a number of emendations to match the masculine gender of Anilios, as determined by Savage & Boundy (2012). In particular, the specific epithet leptosoma has been changed to leptosomus. However, this modification is invalid in accordance with art. 31.2.1-2 of the ICZN, because the term was originally intended as a noun and cannot be modified (Shea 2015).

 

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

WA: Carnarvon (CAR)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, fossorial, nocturnal, oviparous, soil dweller.

Extra Ecological Information

Feeds primarily on ant and termite larvae and pupae.

 

General References

Ellis, R.J., Doughty, P., Donnellan, S.C., Marin, J. & Vidal, N. 2017. 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. Zootaxa 4323(1) [9]

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 [33]

ICZN 1999. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. IV Edition. London : International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature xxix+ 306 pp.

McDiarmid, R.W., Campbell, J.A. & Touré,T.A. 1999. Snake species of the world. A taxonomic and geographic reference. Vol. 1. Washington D.C. : Herpetologists’ League pp. 511. [67]

Pyron, R.A. & Wallach, V. 2014. Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Zootaxa 3829: 1-81 [60]

Shea, G.M. 2015. A new species of Anilios (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) from Central Australia. Zootaxa 4033(1): 103–116 [112]

Storr, G.M. 1981. The genus Ramphotyphlops (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) in Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 9: 235-271 (taxonomy)

 

Common Name References

Clayton, M., Wombey, J.C., Mason, I.J., Chesser, R.T. & Wells, A. 2006. CSIRO List of Australian Vertebrates: A Reference with Conservation Status. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing iv 162 pp. [41] (Murchison Blind Snake)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
03-Feb-2023	Anilios Gray, 1845	27-Oct-2017	MODIFIED
07-Feb-2024	TYPHLOPIDAE	15-Jul-2014	MODIFIED	ABRS
07-Feb-2024		07-May-2012	MODIFIED
08-Mar-2011		08-Mar-2011	MODIFIED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)