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Anilios systenos ELLIS & DOUGHTY, 2017

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Higher TaxaTyphlopidae (Asiatyphlopinae), Typhlopoidea, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Sharp-snouted Blindsnake 
SynonymAnilios systenos ELLIS & DOUGHTY in ELLIS et al. 2017
Anilios systenos — TIATRAGUL et la. 2023 
DistributionAustralia (Western Australia)

Type locality: 15 km east of Geraldton (28°46'S; 114°37'E), Western Australia.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: WAM R114892, subadult male collected in 1992 by T. Backshall. Paratypes (3). WAM R1734, Newmarracarra, 21 km east of Geraldton (28°43'S; 114°49'E); WAM R113398, locality and collection data unknown; WAM R114893, 15 km east of Geraldton (28°46'S; 114°37'E), Western Australia. 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: A moderately long, slender Anilios to about 270 mm total length. Distinguished from all other Anilios by a combination of midbody scales in 18 rows, dorsal body scales 598–621, snout bluntly angular in profile, tapering to a rounded point, snout tapering to a narrow rounded edge with faint trilobed appearance in dorsal view, hardened anterior rostral edge extending slightly ventrally to form a weak hook, nasal cleft originating from second supralabial, extending anteriorly to reach nostril and terminating at rostral scale, presence of a terminal tail spine, colouration pale with dorsum slightly darker than ventrum and lack of any black pigment on head, body or tail.


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Comment 
EtymologyDerived from the Greek word systenos, meaning ‘tapering to a point’ in reference to the tapering appearance of the head and snout to a rounded point when viewed dorsally. 
References
  • ELLIS, RYAN J.; PAUL DOUGHTY, STEPHEN C. DONNELLAN, JULIE MARIN & NICOLAS VIDAL 2017. Worms in the sand: Systematic revision of the Australian blindsnake Anilios leptosoma (Robb, 1972) species complex (Squamata: Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) from the Geraldton Sandplain, with description of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (1): 001–024 - get paper here
  • Tiatragul, S., Skeels, A., & Keogh, J. S. 2023. Paleoenvironmental models for Australia and the impact of aridification on blindsnake diversification. Journal of Biogeography, 50, 1899–1913 - get paper here
 
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