Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56

Additional information on Ramphotyphlops aspina Couper, Covacevich & Wilson 1998 (Reptilia: Typhlopidae), a poorly known blind snake from the Mitchell Grass Downs of Queensland

Citation

Vanderduys, E.P. 2013. Additional information on Ramphotyphlops aspina Couper, Covacevich & Wilson 1998 (Reptilia: Typhlopidae), a poorly known blind snake from the Mitchell Grass Downs of Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56(2): 615-619. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-16

Published online

30 June 2013

Peer reviewed

Yes

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-16

Keywords

blind snake, Ramphotyphlops aspina, Mitchell Grass Downs, Queensland

Abstract 

Blind snakes (Typhlopidae: Ramphotyphlops) are relatively poorly known compared to most other Australian reptiles. One quarter of Australia's species are known from one specimen or one location only. Ramphotyphlops aspina Couper, Covacevich and Wilson is known from two specimens collected within 22 km of each other in the Mitchell Grass Downs Bioregion of Queensland. A third specimen is discussed here, from a location 470 km from the previous specimens, also within the Mitchell Grass Downs. The collection localities of all R. aspina specimens suggest it may be a Mitchell Grass Downs endemic.