Blanus vandellii CERÍACO & BAUER, 2018
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Blanus vandellii
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| Higher Taxa | Blanidae, Amphisbaenia, Lacertoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Vandelli’s Worm Lizard, Central Iberian Worm Lizard |
| Synonym | Blanus vandellii CERÍACO & BAUER 2018 Amphisbaena rufa HEMPRICH 1820 Blanus rufus — SPEYBROECK et al. 2020 Blanus vandellii — PAIVA et al. 2023 |
| Distribution | Portugal, SE Spain Type locality: Carvoeiro, Mação (39.6244 N, −7.923056 E; WGS-84), Portugal |
| Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: MB = MUHNAC 03-000372, adult male, collected by Albano Soares on 17 April 1987. Holotype: ZMB, from Southern Spain [Amphisbaena rufa] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (vandellii): As noted in Albert and Fernández (2009), the morphological distinction of the two Iberian species of Blanus is not straightforward, as there are no discrete external morphological characters that allow an unambiguous identification of each species. Comparisons between Albert and Fernández (2009) and the specimens analysed in this study are presented in Table 2. Through the analysis of the limited available material and the data presented by Albert and Fernández (2009) the new species can be distinguished from B. cinereus by smaller snout–vent length (74–200 mm fide Albert and Fernández (2009); 102.4–189 mm our measurements) in B. vandellii versus (85– 253 mm fide Albert and Fernández (2009); 130–210 mm our measurements) in B. cinereus, a higher number of dorsal segments (14–20 in B. vandellii versus 13–17 in B. cinereus fide Albert and Fernández (2009) and ventral segements (14–20 in B. vandellii versus 13–18 in B. cinereus fide Albert and Fernández (2009). In general, B. vandellii is a smaller, less bulky animal than B. cinereus. However, these characters are not particularly useful, and only in some animals (e.g. animals with more than 18 dorsal segments) is it possible to use them to unambiguously differentitate the two species. As noted by Albert and Fernández (2009), there are also differences between the two species at several positions in their ‘Anonymous Unknown Nuclear Gene.’ These authors also highlighted the deep mitochondrial (ND4) divergence between the two species but did not provide any associated diagnostic molecular characters. |
| Comment | Synonymy: Note that older names, Amphisbaena oxyura Wagler, 1824 and Amphisbaena rufa Hemprich, 1820, may be available for this taxon. However, Ceríaco and Bauer (2018) treated these two names as nomina dubia and created the new nomen Blanus vandellii. See also Speybroeck et al. 2020 (who accepted Blanus rufus) for further discussion. Publication date: The publication year of HEMPRICH’s description is sometimes given as 1829. However, BAUER (2001) concluded that 1820 is the correct date. Distribution: see map in CERÍACO & BAUER 2018: 18 (with unclear labels though). |
| Etymology | The species is named after Domingos Vandelli, founder of modern Portuguese natural history and describer of the first Iberian Blanus. |
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