Resurrection and Redescription of the Typhlops silus Legler, 1959 from Cuba (Scolecophidia, Typhlopidae)
The nominal species Typhlops silus has been used consistently as a junior synonym of the Typhlops lumbricalis. In this review, the current taxonomic status of T. silus is resolved by means of morphological characters and comparisons among blind snakes of the Typhlops lumbricalis species group from the Bahama Islands, Cuba, and Hispaniola. The results support the resurrection of the T. silus, restricted to eastern provinces of Cuba. A paratype (KU 47470) is not preliminarily referred to this name in this paper because the type series of the T. silus could comprises two species. This specimen differs in the head scutellation from the holotype and a second paratype (KU 47471). A redescription of T. silus (including several additional specimens) and a new key to the West Indian species of the Typhlops lumbricalis species group are provided. Typhlops silus is characterized by its small size as well as a rounded snout, narrow to broad oval rostral in dorsal view, preocular contacting third supralabial only, and low middorsal scale counts (<300), 20 scale rows anteriorly reducing to 18 posteriorly at around midbody.Abstract
Dorsal (A, C) and lateral (B, D) views of the head scutellation in: (A–B) T. silus (holotype); (C–D) Typhlops sp.1 (KU 47470). Scale bars = 1 mm.
Localities for T. silus in the eastern region of Cuba (Granma, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba Provinces): solid squares, T. silus; semisolid squares, sympatry of T. silus and T. oxyrhinus (1. Yao, 2. Vista Alegre, 3. Santa María del Loreto, 4. Belona, 5. Bayate, 6. Guantánamo City, 7. San Carlos). Inset: Location of main map within Cuba.
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