Amphisbaena munoai KLAPPENBACH, 1960
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Amphisbaena munoai
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| Higher Taxa | Amphisbaenidae, Amphisbaenia, Lacertoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Munoa Worm Lizard Portuguese: Anfisbena-Pequena, Cobra-Cega-Branca, Cobra-Cega-Pequena, Cobra-Cega-Uruguaia-Pequena |
| Synonym | Amphisbaena munoai KLAPPENBACH 1960 Amphisbaena munoai — GANS 1966: 243 Amphisbaena munoai — HOOGMOED & AVILA-PIRES 1991 Amphisbaena munoai — GANS 2005: 17 Amphisbaena munoai — PEREZ & BORGES-MARTINS 2019 |
| Distribution | S and E Uruguay, Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) Type locality: Uruguay: Maldonado: Cerro de Animas (34°42’S, 55°19’W). |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MNHNC 587. Paratypes: MNHNC 173A–173D, 181A–181F, 583A–583E, 586, 588–591, 718A, 718B, 862–862C, 863, 865A–865C (Cerro de Animas); MNHNC 178A, 178B, 182 (Cerro San Antonio, Piriapolis, Maldonado); MNHNC 714 (Carpinterma, Rivera); MNHNC 716 (Aguas Blancas, Lavalleja); MNHN 861A, 86lB (Zapican, Lavalleja); MNHNC 864 (Sierras de Acegua, Cerro Largo); ZVC (= DZVU) 37–1 (Cerro de Arequita, Lavalleja); ZVC (= DZVU) 38, 142 (Cerro, Montevideo), MACN, USNM 145301, and others (see Perez & Borges-Martins 2019: 135). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Amphisbaena munoai distinguishes from other species of Amphisbaena by the following combination of characters: (1) rounded head; (2) smooth segments on the tip of the tail; (3) four precloacal pores; (4) 202-218 body annuli; (5) row of postmalar shields present; (6) 18-25 caudal annuli; (7) caudal autotomy visible between 5 and 9 tail annuli; (8) 10-14 segments on the midbody annulus (from Perez & Borges-Martins 2019: 135). Comparison: Amphisbaena munoai is distinguished from A. albocingulata by presenting the post-malar row (vs. post-malar row absent). Differs from A. hogei by presenting 202-218 body annuli (vs. 177-191 body annuli). It differs from A. heterozonata by presenting 18-23 caudal annuli (vs. 13-17 caudal annuli). It differs from A. nigricauda by presenting a uniform coloration in the tip of the tail (vs. a darker coloration in the tip of the tail). It differs from A. trachura by presenting smooth scales in the tip of the tail (vs. tuberculate scales). It differs from A. darwinii by presenting a slender body and small SVL in adults, 102-151 mm (vs. sturdy body with long SVL in adults, 150-304 mm). Differs from A. prunicolor by presenting a uniform coloration pattern (vs. checkered coloration pattern). Differs from A. tiaraju sp. nov. by presenting a smaller distance between ocular shields, varying between vs. 28.7-37.5, x = 32.7 ± 0,9 of head length (HL) (vs. 35.3-42.7%,x = 39.5 ± 2,3) and 6.4% of 16S rDNA mean genetic distance. It differs from A. arenicola sp nov. by presenting 3/3 supralabial shields (vs. 3/3 or 4/4 supralabial shields) and a larger nasal suture varying between 14.1 and 20.8, x = 17.6 ± 1.5 (vs. 12.5-17.2, x = 14.7 ± 1.5). Differs from A. nana sp. nov. by presenting a large frontal shield, with larger size than parietal shield, varying between 25.9 and 35.8; x = 27.7 ± 1.0 of HL (vs. 18.7-28.7% x = 23.9 ± 2.6; with similar size than parietal shield) (from Perez & Borges-Martins 2019: 135). See also diagnosis and detailed description in Gans 1966: 243. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after Juan Ignacio Muñoa (1925-1960), zoologist and anthropologist in the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural y Antropologia, Montevideo, Uruguay. |
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