A second species of Brasilotyphlus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

Abstract

Brasilotyphlus is rediagnosed in light of the discovery of a second species of the genus, B. guarantanus sp. nov., in the municipality of Guarantã do Norte, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The new species differs from B. braziliensis mainly in annular counts, having 151–170 primaries and at most 2 secondaries (instead of 142–147 primaries and 23–36 secondaries).

A new species of Brasilotyphlus (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) and a contribution to the knowledge of the relationship between Microcaecilia and Brasilotyphlus

“…Dermal and subdermal scales were examined following . Comparisons with B. braziliensis were made using only the literature (Taylor 1968; Maciel & Hoogmoed 2011) and with B. guarantanus using two specimens from Parauapebas, Pará, Brazil (Museu de História Natural da Universidade Federal de Alagoas, MUFAL 10363; 10379) and literature data (Maciel et al 2009). A small ventral incision was made and all specimens were sexed by direct examination of the gonads.…”

“…Currently, B. braziliensis (Dunn 1945) is known only from its type locality and Reserva do Gavião (02 o 25' S, 59 o 50' W), approximately 70 km from Manaus (Maciel & Hoogmoed 2011). Four decades after Taylor's work, a second species of the genus, B. guarantanus Maciel, Mott and Hoogmoed 2009, was described from Guarantã do Norte municipality in the state of Mato Grosso and Parauapebas municipality, state of Pará, Brazil (Maciel et al 2009). In the most recent comprehensive taxonomic overview of Gymnophiona, Brasilotyphlus was diagnosed by a unique combination of morphological characters within Siphonopidae: a diastema between the vomerine and palatine teeth and eyes covered by bone (Wilkinson et al 2011).…”

“…In the most recent comprehensive taxonomic overview of Gymnophiona, Brasilotyphlus was diagnosed by a unique combination of morphological characters within Siphonopidae: a diastema between the vomerine and palatine teeth and eyes covered by bone (Wilkinson et al 2011). Wilkinson & Nussbaum (2006), Maciel et al (2009) and Maciel & Hoogmoed (2011) argued that Brasilotyphlus is very similar to Microcaecilia, the most species-rich genus of siphonopid caecilian. Considering that the diastema is the main known difference between these genera, Maciel et al (2009) and Maciel & Hoogmoed (2011) questioned whether the two genera are valid entities or should be considered synonymous.…”

“…Wilkinson & Nussbaum (2006), Maciel et al (2009) and Maciel & Hoogmoed (2011) argued that Brasilotyphlus is very similar to Microcaecilia, the most species-rich genus of siphonopid caecilian. Considering that the diastema is the main known difference between these genera, Maciel et al (2009) and Maciel & Hoogmoed (2011) questioned whether the two genera are valid entities or should be considered synonymous. However, highlighted that the difference between Microcaecilia and Brasilotyphlus is more extensive, because the diastema in Brasilotyphlus is large and associated with three other characters: palatine series extending posteriorly slightly further than premaxillary-maxillary series; semicircular vomerine series; and relatively posterior choanae.…”

“…Moreover, we provide the first molecular assessment of the systematics of Brasilotyphlus. (Dunn 1945)]; circle 1 is the type locality of B. guarantanus [Municipality of Guarantã do Norte, Mato Grosso, Brazil (Maciel et al 2009)]; circle 2 is the paratype locality of B. guarantanus [Municipality of Parauapebas, Pará, Brazil (Maciel et al 2009)]; square 1 is the type locality of Brasilotyphlus dubium sp. nov. [Municipality of Mucajaí, Roraima, Brazil (this study)]; square 2 is the locality of a Brasilotyphlus dubium sp.…”