An enigmatic new species of blind snake from Luzon Island, Northern Philippines, with a synopsis of the genus Acutotyphlops (Serpentes : Typhlopidae)

摘要

We describe a strikingly distinct new species of Acutotyphlops from Kalinga Province of Luzon Island, Philippines. The new species is most closely related to other members of the genus Acutotyphlops from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and represents a new genus and species group record for the Philippines. A revised definition of Acutotyphlops is presented along with a synopsis of the genus. The discovery of this species, combined with consideration of its morphology and distribution, represents a curious new systematic and biogeographical problem in Southeast Asian and southwest Pacific scolecophidian snake systematics.