Leptotyphlops scutifrons

Published, First, 2007, A revision of the genus Leptotyphlops in northeastern Africa and southwestern Arabia (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae), Zootaxa 1408, pp. 1-78 : 62-67

Leptotyphlops scutifrons species group

Leptotyphlops distanti ( mean based on six females, MCZ 21304, NMZB-UM 31602 , TM 5059 , 12720 , 12772 , 54016 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 10.7%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.21, heart elongate, 4.5% (MP = 15.9%), snout-heart interval 18.2%, heart-liver gap 8.8%, liver nearly straight with squarish multipartite lobes and a wavy vena cava, right liver 38.7% (MP = 46.3%) with 43.0 (34–55) segments, left liver 32.4% (MP = 45.9%) with 36.3 (27–43) segments, anterior liver extension 0.07, posterior liver tail 0.10, left liver = 0.83 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 0.9%, gall bladder 1.6% (MP = 67.3%), adjacent to pancreas (1.5%) and caudad of juxtasplenic body (1.8%) and smaller spleen, right ovary 6.3% (MP = 80.2%) with 2.3 (1–4) ova and 7.3 (3–13) follicles, left ovary 6.0% (MP = 84.4%) with 2.3 (2–3) ova and 8.0 (2–17) follicles, right adrenal MP = 69.7%, left adrenal MP = 71.2%, kidneys smooth, right kidney 3.4% (MP = 87.1%), left kidney 3.5% (MP = 90.0%), kidney-vent interval 14.7%, kidney-vent gap 8.2%, kidney overlap 0.09, rectal caecum 1.9%, twice the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 9.5%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 17.2% (MP = 9.6%), estimated number of tracheal rings 150.2 (108–170) or 88.3 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 15.8%, cardiac lung 2.4%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 21.7% (MP = 29.0%), cranial half with one layer of triangular and diamond-shaped faveoli, caudal half reticulate with network of trabeculae, posterior tip 39.9%, bronchus 8.2%, posterior tip of bronchus 26.4%, bronchus = 0.38 right lung, trachea-bronchus 25.4% (MP = 13.7%), total lung 24.1% (MP = 27.8%).

Reproduction. Wallach (1998b) estimated the clutch size as 4–6. TM 12772 (SVL 171 mm, MBD 3.8 mm) with 3/1vitellogenic ova (7 x 1.5 mm /6 x 1.7 mm) and 6/9 follicles on 31 October 1927; TM 12720 (SVL 212 mm, MBD 3.5 mm) with 2/4 ova (6 x 1.5–5 x 1.5 mm /6 x 1.8–5.5 x 2 mm) and 7/3 follicles on 4 November 1915; TM 5059 (SVL 179 mm, MBD 3.5 mm) with 2/ 1 eggs (12 x 2.5, 9 x 2.5 mm /9 x 3 mm) and 0/1 ova (3 x 1.5 mm) on 5 December 1914.

Leptotyphlops incognitus ( mean based on two males, NMZB-UM 20579 , 28498 , one female paratype, NMZB-UM 23924 , and four females, NMZB 11399 , NMZB-UM 7563 , 7603 , 20698 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 13.1%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.17, heart 4.8% (MP = 18.1%), snout-heart interval 20.5%, heart-liver gap 8.9%, liver lobes multipartite, right liver 35.0% (MP = 46.9%) with 30.3 (24– 41) segments, left liver 26.7% (MP = 45.9%) with 24.3 (19–32) segments, anterior liver extension 0.09, posterior liver tail 0.15, left liver = 0.76 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 1.7%, gall bladder 1.3% (MP = 66.7%), wedged between subequal pancreas (1.4%) and more craniad juxtasplenic body (2.3%), testes multipartite, right testis 4.9% (MP = 80.2%) with 5.0 (3–7) segments, left testis 5.4% (MP = 82.9%) with 5.5 (3–8) segments, right ovary 4.2% (MP = 77.4%) with 2.3 (1–3) ova and 4.5 (3–5) follicles, left ovary 3.6% (MP = 80.8%) with 2.0 (0–0) ova and 3.3 (2–4) follicles, right adrenal MP = 83.1%, left adrenal MP = 84.6%, kidneys smooth, right kidney 3.2% (MP = 86.4%), left kidney 3.2% (MP = 89.2%), kidney-vent interval 15.2%, kidney-vent gap 9.2%, kidney overlap 0.12, rectal caecum 1.7%, 2–4 times the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 9.1%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 19.2% (MP = 10.9%), estimated number of tracheal rings 165.9 (144–214) or 85.3 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 17.9%, cardiac lung 2.6%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 21.9% (MP = 31.5%), cranial half with single layer of round faveoli, caudal half reticulate with network of trabeculae, posterior tip 42.4%, bronchus 7.9%, posterior tip of bronchus 28.4%, bronchus = 0.36 right lung, trachea-bronchus 27.1% (MP = 14.8%), total lung 24.5% (MP = 30.2%).

Reproduction. Wallach (1998b) estimated the clutch size as 2–5. PEM R 12015 (SVL 123 mm) laid 3 eggs (mean 10.8 mm, r = 9.2–11.8 mm) on 5 December 1995 ( Branch and Haagner, 1996) . NMZB-UM 7563 (SVL 135 mm, MBD 2.5 mm) with 2/3 vitellogenic ova (2.0 x 1 mm /3 x 1.5 mm) and 4/5 follicles on 2 November 1963 . NMZB-UM 7603 (SVL 126 mm, MBD 2.3 mm) with 1/1 oviducal eggs (15 x 2mm /15 x 2.5 mm) and 6/4 follicles on 3 December 1963 . NMZB 11399 (SVL 105 mm) with 1/1 vitellogenic ova and 3/5 follicles ; NMZB-UM 20698 (SVL 127 mm) with 3/0 ova and 2/3 foolicles ; NMZB-UM 23924 (SVL 138 mm) with 2/ 0 ova and 0/0 follicles (dales unknown) .

Leptotyphlops latirostris ( mean based on two males, MCZ 53261, 57459 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 15.2%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.11, heart 5.0% (MP = 19.6%), snout-heart interval 22.1%, heart-liver gap 9.4%, liver lobes multipartite, right liver 33.0% (MP = 48.0%) with 28.0 (25– 32) segments, left liver 28.6% (MP = 48.1%) with 23.7 (22–25) segments, anterior extension of right liver lobe 0.07, posterior tail of right liver lobe 0.06, left liver = 0.87 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 3.9%, gall bladder 1.6% (MP = 69.2%), caudal to pancreas (1.5%), juxtasplenic body (2.4%) and spleen (1.0%), testes multipartite, right testis 5.1% (MP = 78.2%) with 9.7 (7–11) segments, left testis 4.8% (MP = 82.2%) with 9.3 (6–12) segments, right adrenal MP = 82.5%, left adrenal MP = 84.5%, right kidney 3.7% (MP = 85.6%), left kidney 3.9% (MP = 87.8%), kidney overlap 0.29, kidney-vent interval 16.3%, kidney-vent gap 10.2%, rectal caecum 1.2%, 2–4 times the diameter of adjacent small intestine, rectal caecum-vent interval 10.2%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 20.5% (MP = 11.9%), estimated number of tracheal rings 150.5 or 72.1 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 20.3%, cardiac lung 1.8%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 20.4% (MP = 32.3%), cranial portion with one layer of circular faveoli, caudal portion reticulate with network of trabeculae lining saccular membrane, posterior lung tip 42.5%, right bronchus 10.1%, bronchus posterior tip 32.2%, bronchus = 0.50 right lung, trachea-bronchus 30.5% (MP = 16.9%), total lung 22.2% (MP = 31.4%).

Leptotyphlops nigroterminus ( mean based on male holotype, MCZ 54813, and three female paratype, KU 172930, MCZ 52634, 54653 )

Sternohyoideus posterior tip 12.2%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.15, heart 4.7% (MP = 16.6%), snout-heart interval 19.0%, heart-liver gap 8.4%, liver lobes multipartite, right liver 38.0% (MP = 46.3%) with 41.3 (35– 49) segments, left liver 29.9% (MP = 46.1%) with 30.8 (21–38) segments, postcava with zig-zag configuration, anterior liver extension 0.10, posterior liver tail 0.12, left liver = 0.90 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 0.9, gall bladder 1.4% (MP = 66.9%) wedged between caudal pancreas and large juxtasplenic body (2.0%), small spleen (0.6%) adjacent to anterior tip of juxtasplenic body, testes multipartite, right testis 6.0% (MP = 82.9%) with 11 segments, left testis 4.0% (MP = 87.2%) with 10 segments, right ovary 4.8% (MP = 77.8%) with 1.5 (1–2) vitellogenic ova and 7.0 (3–12) follicles, left ovary 4.2% (MP = 80.7%) with 1.7 (1–2) ova and 6.7 (4–10) follicles, clutch size = 2–3, right adrenal MP = 82.1%, left adrenal MP = 84.1%, kidneys creased with two renal arteries, right kidney 3.3% (MP = 85.3%), left kidney 3.5% (MP = 87.6%), kidney overlap 0.19, kidney-vent interval 16.5%, kidney-vent gap 10.6%, rectal caecum large 2.3%, 3–4 times the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 10.3%.

Tracheal lung and left lung complex absent, trachea 17.9% ( MP = 10.1%), estimated number of tracheal rings 175.7 (160–192) or 96.3 rings/10% SVL, anterior tip of lung 16.8%, cardiac lung 2.2%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung broad, 28.3% ( MP = 33.1%) with two layers of faveoli anteriorly and minute foramina (type G) located between distal tips of bronchial cartilages, posterior lung narrowly constricted (0.08 MBD in MCZ 52634) and reticulate, posterior tip of right lung 47.3%, bronchus 9.4%, bronchus posterior tip 28.3%, bronchus = 0.35 right lung, trachea-bronchus 27.3% (MP = 14.7%), total lung 30.5% (MP = 32.0%).

Reproduction. MCZ 54653 (SVL 171 mm, MBD = 3 mm) with 2/1 ova (4 x 1 mm) and 10/12 follicles in February 195; KU 172930 (SVL 144 mm, MBD = 3 mm) with 2/0 ova (4 x 1.5, 3.5 x 1.5 mm) and 4/6 follicles on 18 August 1976; MCZ 52634 (SVL 183 mm, MBD = 2.5 mm) with 1/2 ova (2.5 x 1 mm /3.5 x 1.25, 3.0 x 1 mm) and 6/3 follicles on 24 August 1951. This suggest a biannual reproductive cycle.

Leptotyphlops pungwensis ( based on female holotype, NMZB-UM 7251 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 16.0%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.10, heart 5.3% (MP = 20.4%), snout-heart interval 23.1%, heart-liver gap 10.1%, liver lobes multipartite with rectangular segment, right liver 36.7% (MP = 51.4%) with 34 segments, left liver 29.6% (MP = 50.9%) with 22 segments, postcava straight along cranial liver and wavy along caudal liver, anterior liver extension 0.08, posterior liver tail 0.11, left liver = 0.81 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 4.7%, gall bladder 1.8% (MP = 75.4%), ovaries undeveloped, right ovary 2.4% (MP = 81.7%) with no ova and 3 follicles, left ovary 1.8% (MP = 84.3%) with no ova and 1 follicle, kidneys smooth, right kidney 3.0% (MP = 86.1%), left kidney 3.0% (MP = 88.8%), kidney-vent interval 15.4%, kidney-vent gap 9.8%, kidney overlap 0.05, rectal caecum 1.8%, 1.5 times the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 9.5%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 21.3% (MP = 12.4%), estimated number of tracheal rings 144 or 67.6 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 19.5%, cardiac lung 3.6%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 31.4% (MP = 38.8%), cranial 1/5 with single layer of faveoli, followed by 1/5 with single layer of ediculae, 1/5 reticulate with network of trabeculae, and caudal 2/5 saccular, posterior tip 54.4%, bronchus 10.7%, posterior tip of bronchus 33.7%, bronchus = 0.34 right lung, trachea-bronchus 32.0% (MP = 17.8%), total lung 34.9% (MP = 37.0%).

Reproduction. Wallach (1998b) estimated the clutch size as 4. The holotype (SVL 85 mm, MBD 1.2 mm), presumably a juvenile, lacking ova but with 1/3 follicles on 8 November 1963.

Leptotyphlops scutifrons scutifrons ( mean based on one male, TM 24629 , and six females, FMNH 80015 , NMZB-UM 28264 , 31233 , TM 5068 , 25576 , 44732 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 12.0%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.18, heart 4.1% (MP = 16.6%), snout-heart interval 18.7%, heart-liver gap 10.4%, liver lobes multipartite, right liver 37.9% (MP = 48.0%) with 38.3 (29– 52) segments, left liver 31.6% (MP = 47.1%) with 31.0 (22–45) segments, postcava straight cranially and zigzag caudally, anterior liver extension 0.06, posterior liver tail 0.11, left liver = 0.83 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 1.2%, gall bladder 1.2% (MP = 68.7%), wedged between caudal pancreas (1.5%) and craniad juxtasplenic body (1.6%), with spleen (1.7%) along anterior end of juxtasplenic body, testes multipartite, right testis 7.2% (MP = 74.6%) with 13 segments, left testis 4.6% (MP = 77.9%) with 11 segments, right ovary 5.0% (MP = 81.4%) with 2.8 (2–4) ova and 4.8 (0–12) follicles, left ovary 3.1% (MP = 83.8%) with 1.3 (0–3) ova and 3.3 (0–10) follicles, right adrenal MP = 83.1%, left adrenal MP = 85.2%, kidneys smooth, unsegmented, right kidney 2.7% (MP = 85.4%), left kidney 3.0% (MP = 89.0%), kidney-vent interval 16.0%, kidney-vent gap 9.6%, kidney-kidney gap 0.03, rectal caecum 1.6%, 2 times the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecumvent interval 9.4%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 17.5% (MP = 9.9%), estimated number of tracheal rings 181.8 (143–208) or 102.7 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 17.0%, cardiac lung 1.7%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 24.1% (MP =30.7%), cranial third to quarter with 2 layers of deep diamond-shaped faveoli, mesial quarter with a single layer of ediculae, caudal half reticulate with network of trabeculae, posterior tip 42.8%, bronchus 9.4%, with type G foramina between bronchial cartilages, posterior tip of bronchus 28.1%, bronchus = 0.43 right lung, trachea-bronchus 26.9% (MP = 14.6%), total lung 25.7% (MP = 29.9%).

Reproduction Three large eggs present in a 200 mm female (BMNH 1934.4.6.3) ( Broadley and Watson, 1976). Gravid females in November and December with largest eggs 14 x 3.5 mm ( De Waal, 1978). Wallach (1998b) estimated the clutch size as 2–8. Vitellogenesias occurs in the spring (Sept.–Nov.) and oviposition in the summer (Dec.–Feb.) with relatively large neonates of 52–58 mm (n = 6) with adult mean length of 131 mm ( Webb et al., 2000). Mean clutch size 2.3 (r = 1–3) eggs and mean egg size 18.6 x 3.3 mm (r = 13–25 x 2.3–4.0 mm) in a sample of 8 females ( Webb et al., 2000). NMZB-UM 28264 (SVL 169 mm) with vitellogenic ova (1/3) in December 1971, TM 25576 (SVL 171 mm) with ova (0/2) on 9 January 1955, and FMNH 80015 (SVL 215 mm) with ova (3/5) in January–March 1957. TM 44732 (SVL 179 mm) with ova (1/2) on 22 June 1974. TM 5068 (SVL 172 mm) with 3 oviducal eggs in January 1913.

Leptotyphlops scutifrons conjunctus ( mean based on three males, MCZ 55831, NMZB-UM 12522 , 31422 , and three females, NMZB-UM 31423 , TM 76130 , 76153 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 13.7%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.14, heart 4.7% (MP = 18.1%), snout-heart interval 20.4%, heart-liver gap 10.3%, liver lobes multipartite with rectangular segments, right liver 30.7% (MP = 46.1%) with 29.2 (24–37) segments, left liver 23.6% (MP = 45.6%) with 20.0 (16–26) segments, postcava straight throughout, anterior liver extension 0.10, posterior liver tail 0.13, left liver = 0.77 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 1.0%, gall bladder 1.6% (MP = 63.2%) adjacent to pancreas (1.6%) and cranially positioned spleen (0.7%) and caudad of juxtasplenic body (2.2%), testes multipartite, right testis 6.2% (MP = 76.9%) with 8.7 (4–11) segments, left testis 5.1% (MP = 79.2%) with 8.0 (3–13) segments, right ovary 4.5% (MP = 74.1%) with 3.7 (1–7) ova and 4.3 (2–8) follicles, left ovary 3.1% (MP = 78.0%) with 2.7 (2–3) ova and 3.5 (2–5) follicles, right adrenal MP = 79.6%, left adrenal MP = 81.9%, kidneys smooth and thin, right kidney 3.4% (MP = 83.3%), left kidney 3.5% (MP = 85.8%), kidney-vent interval 18.4%, kidney-vent gap 12.4%, kidney overlap 0.15, rectal caecum 1.7% (absent in TM 76130), equal in diameter to adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 11.2%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 19.1% (MP = 10.9%), estimated number of tracheal rings 132.6 (99–165) or 69.4 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 18.5%, cardiac lung 2.0%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 22.8% (MP = 31.8%), cranial 1/3 with 2 layers of diamond-shaped faveoli, medial 1/3 with single layer of ediculae, caudal 1/3 with network of reticulate trabeculae, posterior tip 43.2%, bronchus 7.6%, posterior tip of bronchus 28.0%, bronchus = 0.33 right lung, trachea-bronchus 26.7% (MP = 14.7%), total lung 24.7% (MP = 30.9%).

Reproduction. Wallach (1998b) estimated the clutch size as 4–10. Mean clutch size 2.6 (r = 2–3) and mean egg size 14 x 2.9 mm (r = 9–18 x 2.5–3 mm) in sample of 5 females ( Webb et al., 2000). TM 76153 (SVL 141 mm, MBD 3 mm) with 3/7 ova (3 x 1–1.5 x 0.75 mm /3 x 1–1.5 x 1 mm) and 0/3 follicles on 18 November 1981; TM 76130 (SVL 116 mm, MBD 3 mm) with 3/1 ova (1 x 0.75 mm /1.5 x 1 mm) and 5/8 follicles on 7 January 1983. NMZB-UM 31423 (SVL 95 mm) with 2/3 ova and 2/2 follicles (date unknown).

Leptotyphlops scutifrons merker i ( mean based on two males, MCZ 18178, 52629 , ZMB 29081C, and ten females, MCZ 52630-31 , 54515 , NMZB 8089 , 9938 , 11371–72 , 14101 , 14109 , ZMB 21172)

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 12.6%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.14, heart 4.8% (MP = 17.1%), snout-heart interval 19.6%, heart-liver gap 9.3%, liver lobes multipartite, right liver 39.8% (MP = 48.7%) with 40.9 (33– 50) segments, left liver 34.8% (MP = 48.8%) with 34.8 (29–42) segments, anterior liver extension 0.06, posterior liver tail 0.06, left liver = 0.88 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 0.7%, gall bladder 1.6% (MP = 70.1%) caudad of spleen (0.9%) and juxtasplenic body (1.4%), testes multipartite, right testis 5.3% (MP = 79.4%) with 10.0 (8–12) segments, left testis 6.0% (MP = 83.5%) with 9.5 (7–12) segments, right ovary 4.3% (MP = 80.1%) with 1.4 (0–3) ova and 6.6 (4–9) follicles, left ovary 3.6% (MP = 82.6%) with 1.1 (0–3) ova and 5.2 (1–8) follicles, right adrenal MP = 84.0%, left adrenal MP = 86.2%, right kidney 3.2% (MP = 86.8%), left kidney 3.4% (MP = 89.2%), kidney-vent interval 14.8%, kidney-vent gap 9.0%, kidney overlap 0.16, rectal caecum 1.7%, 2–4 times the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 9.5%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 18.2% (MP = 10.5%), estimated number of tracheal rings 162.8 (115–216) or 88.3 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 17.2%, cardiac lung 2.3%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung XXX% (MP =32.4%), cranial half with 1–2 layers of faveoli, caudal half narrow and reticulate with network of trabeculae, posterior tip 45.2%, bronchus 9.5%, posterior tip of bronchus 29.1%, bronchus = 0.39 right lung, trachea-bronchus 27.8% (MP = 15.2%), total lung 27.9% (MP = 31.2%).

Reproduction. Wallach (1998b) estimated the clutch size as 1–5. MCZ 52631 (SVL 170 mm, MBD 3.5 mm) with 0/2 ova (2.5 x 1, 2 x 1 mm) and 8/7 follicles on 10–20 January 1952 ; MCZ 54515 (SVL 171 mm, MBD 3.5 mm) with 1/ 1 eggs (7.5 x 2 mm /7 x 2 mm) and 6/4 follicles on 25 April 1954 ; NMZB 9938 (SVL 163 mm, MBD 3 mm) with 1/0 egg (12.5 x 2 mm) and 5/9 follicles on 28 April 1988 ; MCZ 52630 (SVL 172 mm, MBD 2.6 mm) with 1/1 ova (4 x 1 mm /4.5 x 1.5 mm) and 3/9 follicles on 21 June 1950 ; NMZB 14101 (SVL 125 mm, MBD 2.8 mm) with 1/3 ova (1.5 x 1 mm) and 6/5 follicles on 28 October 1994 ; NMZB 14109 (SVL 114 mm, MBD 2.7 mm) with 1/0 ovum (3 x 1 mm) and 3/4 follicles on 29 November 1994 . NMZB 8089 (SVL 131 mm) lacking developing ova but with 2/4 follicles on 25 May 1985 . ZMB 21172 (SVL 171 mm) with 1/ 1 eggs (9 x 2.5 mm /10 x 2.5 mm) and 7/6 follicles ; NMZB 11372 (SVL 162 mm) with 1/ 1 eggs (11 x 2 mm /7 x 2 mm) and 6/7 follicles ; NMZB 11371 (176 mm) with 3/2 ova (3 x 1 mm) and 5/8 follicles (dates unknown). Oviposition appears to occur in late April to May .

Leptotyphlops scutifrons pitmani ( mean based on three male paratypes, CAS 85761, LIVM 1962.106 .59, 1962.168.26, and two female paratypes, LIVM 1962.50 .35, 1962.106.60)

Sternohyoideus posterior tip 14.0%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.13, heart 4.7% (MP = 18.3%), snout-heart interval 20.7%, heart-liver gap 6.6%, liver lobes multipartite, right liver 36.9% (MP = 45.6%) with 34.7 (29– 39) segments, left liver 30.6% (MP = 44.5%) with 27.0 (26–28) segments, anterior liver extension 0.05, posterior liver tail 0.12, left liver = 0.83 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 2.7%, gall bladder 2.0% (MP = 67.8%), smaller than more craniad juxtasplenic body (2.6%), testes multipartite, right testis 5.3% (MP = 78.1%) with 11.5 (10–13) segments, left testis 4.9% (MP = 81.0%) with 9.5 (8–11) segments, right ovary 3.8% (MP = 79.4%) with 2 large eggs (8.0–9.0 x 2.5–2.8 mm), one ovum and 10 follicles, left ovary 3.8% (MP = 81.8%) with 5 ova and 8 follicles, right adrenal MP = 81.5%, left adrenal MP = 83.2%, right kidney 3.8% (MP = 84.5%), left kidney 3.8% (MP = 87.2%), kidney overlap 0.19, kidney-vent interval 17.4%, kidney-vent gap 10.8%, rectal caecum 2.0%, twice the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 11.4%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 19.7% (MP = 10.8%) with an estimated 150.2 (140–170) tracheal rings or 80.1 rings/10% SVL, anterior tip of lung 17.6%, cardiac lung 3.1%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 22.1% (MP = 31.7%) with two layers of faveoli anteriorly and tiny type G foramina between tips of bronchial cartilages, posterior lung narrow with trabecular parenchyma, posterior lung tip 42.7%, two specimens with lung tip folded back upon itself for 5% SVL, bronchus 10.6%, posterior tip of bronchus 31.8%, bronchus = 0.58 right lung, trachea-bronchus 32.5% (MP = 17.2%), total lung 24.2% (MP = 30.4%).

Reproduction. LIVM 1962.106.60 (SVL 166 mm) with 0/ 2 eggs (9 x 2.7, 8 x 2.5 mm), 1/5 ova (1.5 x 1 mm /2 x 1–1.5 x 0.75 mm), and 8/10 follicles (date unknown).

Leptotyphlops sylvicolus ( mean based on one male, NMZB-UM 11903 , and two females, TM 29975 , 54602 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 16.5%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.10, heart 5.6% (MP = 21.1%), snout-heart interval 23.9%, heart-liver gap 10.4%, liver lobes multipartite with transversely rectangular segments, right liver 31.7% (MP = 50.2%) with 22.7 (22–24) segments, left liver 24.9% (MP = 49.3%) with 22.3 (17–28) segments, postcava straight throughout, anterior liver extension 0.08, posterior liver tail 0.13, left liver = 0.79 right liver, liver-gall bladder overlap 0.3%, gall bladder 1.7% (MP = 66.5%), wedged between adjacent pancreas (1.7%) and craniad juxtasplenic body (2.5%) and spleen (1.2%), testes multipartite, right testis 8.6% (MP = 76.1%) with 8 segments, left testis 8.6% (MP = 81.6%) with 8 segments, right ovary 5.2% (MP = 79.0%) with 2.0 (2–2) ova and 1.0 (1–1) follicles, left ovary 5.5% (MP = 80.9%) with 2.0 (2–2) ova and 4.5 (0–9) follicles, right adrenal MP = 81.0%, left adrenal MP = 82.4%, kidneys smooth and creased, right kidney 4.1% (MP = 85.5%), left kidney 4.1% (MP = 88.4%), kidney-vent interval 16.5%, kidney-vent gap 9.6%, kidney overlap 0.16, rectal caecum 2.2%, twice the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 12.3%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 22.2% (MP = 12.9%), estimated number of tracheal rings 147.7 (135–154) or 67.7 rings/10% SVL, anterior lung tip 20.6%, cardiac lung 3.3%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 22.8% (MP = 35.4%), cranial 1/3 with 2 layers of faveoli, mesial 1/3 with single layer of ediculae, caudal 1/3 reticulate with trabecular network, posterior tip 46.8%, bronchus 10.3%, posterior tip of bronchus 34.2%, bronchus = 0.45 right lung, trachea-bronchus 32.5% (MP = 18.0%), bronchus = 0.45 right lung, total lung 26.2% (MP = 33.7%).

Reproduction. Wallach (1998b) estimated the clutch size as 4. TM 54602 (SVL 101 mm, MBD 3 mm) with 2/2 vitellogenic ova (3 x 1 mm /2.5 x 1.5 mm) and 9/1 follicles on 24 September 1980; TM 29975 (SVL 103 mm) with 2/2 ova (3.5 x 1.25, 2 x 1.25 mm /4 x 1.25, 2 x 1.5 mm) and 0/1 follicles (date unknown).

Leptotyphlops telloi ( mean based on male holotype, NMZB-UM 30635 , and female paratype, TM 31238 )

Posterior tip of sternohyoideus 13.3%, sternohyoideus-heart gap 0.17, heart 4.1% (MP = 16.5%), snout-heart interval 18.6%, heart-liver gap 12.6%, liver lobes multipartite with longitudinally rectangular segments, right liver 42.2% (MP = 52.2%) with 32 segments, left liver 35.1% (MP = 51.8%) with 28 segments, postcava straight throughout, anterior liver extension 0.08, posterior liver tail 0.10, left liver = 0.00 right liver, liver-gall bladder gap 1.3%, gall bladder 1.7% (MP = 75.5%), adjacent to pancreas (1.1%) and caudad of juxtasplenic body (1.6%), testes multipartite, right testis 3.8% (MP = 86.0%) with 8 segments, left testis 3.4% (MP = 86.9%) with 6 segments, right ovary 2.1% (MP = 82.1%) with 5 ova, left ovary 2.5% (MP = 84.0%) with 6 ova, right adrenal MP = 00.0%, left adrenal MP = 00.0%, kidneys smooth, right kidney 2.9% (MP = 88.2%), left kidney 3.4% (MP = 90.4%), kidney-vent interval 13.2%, kidney-vent gap 8.0%, kidney overlap 0.19, rectal caecum 1.2%, 4 times the diameter of adjacent small intestine, caecum-vent interval 8.0%.

Respiratory system lacking tracheal lung and left lung complex, trachea 17.5% (MP = 9.8%), estimated number of tracheal rings 171 (171–171) or 93.4 rings/10% SVL, minute foramina (type G fide Wallach, 1998) present between tips of tracheal cartilages, anterior lung tip 16.7%, cardiac lung 1.8%, tracheal entry terminal, right lung 22.3% (MP = 29.6%), cranial 1/3 with 2 layers of diamond-shaped faveoli, medial 1/3 with single layer of ediculae, caudal 1/3 reticulate with network of trabeculae, posterior tip 40.8%, bronchus 9.6%, posterior tip of bronchus 28.1%, bronchus = 0.43 right lung, trachea-bronchus 27.1% (MP = 14.6%), total lung 24.1% (MP = 28.8%).

Reproduction. The paratype (SVL 163 mm, MBD 2.2 mm) with 6/5 vitellogenic ova on 23 November 1964.