2255 Author Broadley, Donald G. Author Wallach, Van text Zootaxa 2009 2009-10-08 2255 1 100 journal article 1175­5334 Megatyphlops gen. nov. Giant blind-snakes Type species. Onychocephalus mucruso Peters, 1854 , Ber. Bekanntmach. Geeignet. Verhandl. Königl.- Preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1854(11): 621. Diagnosis. —An endemic African genus characterized by the following combination of characters: snout sharply angular in profile, with a keratinized horizontal edge in adults, supralabial imbrication pattern T-II or T-X, nasal shield incompletely divided and lacking posterior concavity, nostrils directed ventrally, inferior nasal suture contacting first or second supralabial or rostral ( Megatyphlops anomalus ) , 3–7 postoculars, dorsal rostral broad (greater than 1/2 interocular head width), ventral rostral broad (greater than 1/2 internarial snout width), well-developed eye with discernible pupil, dorsum pigmented (often with lineate, mottled or blotched pattern), and vestigial left lung present. Other typical characters include 30–44 midbody scale rows, robust body (length/width 17–58), and large size (maximum length 350–950 mm ). Distribution. —Endemic to eastern and southern Africa. Content. —Four species.