Letheobia largeni sp. nov.

(Fig 5 A)

Largen’s gracile blind-snake

Rhinotyphlops pallidus – (not Cope) Largen 1978: 59, Fig. 7; Largen & Rasmussen 1993: 321.

Holotype. BMNH 1974.5162, a female from Gambela, Wollega District, Ethiopia (08°15'N, 34°35'E, elevation 515 m), collected by E. McConnell, 19 April 1974.

Diagnosis. Closely related to Letheobia toritensis, but with the supraocular separated from the rostral by nasal/frontal contact and the nasal suture arising from the second supralabial.

Description. Snout rounded, prominent. Rostral broad, semi-sagittate posteriorly; frontal subtrapexoid; supraocular oblique, its lateral apex between ocular and nasal, the latter separated from the lip by a large subocular; eye not visible; nasal suture arising from second labial; SIP X (N1, P, O, O); scale rows 24-22-22; MD 432; L/D ratio 65. Length 274 mm (Largen 1978).

Etymology. Named for Malcolm Largen, who described and illustrated the type specimen.

Habitat. Moist savanna.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in southwestern Ethiopia (Figs. 11 & 13).