Xenotyphlops Wallach & Ineich, 1996

Pyron, Robert Alexander & Wallach, Van, 2014, Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence, Zootaxa 3829 (1), pp. 1-81 : 45

Xenotyphlops Wallach & Ineich, 1996

Type species. Typhlops grandidieri Mocquard, 1905

Species content. Xenotyphlops grandidieri .

Diagnosis. Xenotyphlops can be distinguished from all other typhlopoids by its very broad, oval-shaped rostral with a nearly vertical lateral profile that terminates in an acute point and a single, large cloacal shield, rather than 4 or 5 as in most other scolecophidians. Small- to moderate-sized (total length 168–284 mm), moderate- to slenderbodied (length/width ratio 62–86) snakes with 20 scale rows (without reduction), 469–545 total middorsals, cloacal shield transversely enlarged, moderate tail (3.1–3.7% total length) with 20–23 subcaudals (length/width ratio 2.3–3.2), and lacking apical spine. Dorsal head profile tapered, rostral very broad and oval (0.76–0.91 head width), terminating in an acute point, lateral head profile with nearly vertical rostral, frontal transversely enlarged (3–4 times as wide as long), subocular present, T-0 SIP, postoculars 2–3. Lateral tongue papillae present; left, tracheal and cardiac lungs absent, right lung unicameral; rectal caecum moderate (2.2–2.5% SVL). Coloration is uniformly pink (pigmentless, without other marks).

Phylogenetic definition. This genus is currently monotypic, but would include any newly discovered species more closely related to Xenotyphlops grandidieri than to Gerrhopilus ater or Typhlops lumbricalis .

Etymology. From the Greek for strange (xenos), blind (typhlos) and eye (ops).

Distribution. Northeastern Madagascar.

Remarks. A second species ( Xenotyphlops mocquardi ) was described by Wallach et al. (2007b), but has been shown to be a synonym of Xen. grandidieri ( Wegener et al. 2013).