Ramphotyphlops mollyozakiae, Wallach, Van, 2021

Wallach, Van, 2021, Addendum to the description of the new species Ramphotyphlops mollyozakiae Wallach, 2020 (Serpentes: Typhlopidae), Pod @ rcis 12 (2), pp. 22-23 : 22-23

Ramphotyphlops mollyozakiae sp. nov.

Holotype: FMNH 180007 .

Type locality (emended): Sakaerat Experimental Station , Udom Sap, Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand (14.510250°N, 101.930805°E, elevation 385 m).

Paratypes: FMNH 18003–06 and ZMUC R52174 .

Etymology: Named in honor of Molly Ozaki (1927–2010), Administrative Assistant and Secretary in the FMNH Division of Amphibians and Reptiles for 15 years (1978– 1992).

Vernacular name: Molly’s blindsnake.

Diagnosis: Ramphotyphlops mollyozakiae can be distinguished from all other species of Ramphotyphlops and Indotyphlops as described in detail in WALLACH, 2020a. Briefly, R. mollyozakiae is most similar to R. albiceps and can be separated by its postoculars (1 vs. 2–4). From R. lineatus it can be recognized by midbody scale rows (20 vs. 22–24) and from all other Ramphotyphlops species with 20 scale rows it is separable by the superior nasal suture (visible on the dorsum of the snout vs. not visible). It can be distinguished from Virgotyphlops braminus and Indotyphlops violaceus by the inferior nasal suture contact (supralabial 2 vs. preocular). Among Indotyphlops species with 20 scale rows it can be identified by a lower number of total middorsals in comparison with I. pammeces (<327 vs.> 328), I. porrectus (<330 vs.> 400), and I. schmutzi (<330 vs.> 385). It is separable from I. malcolmi , I. tenebrarum, and I. veddae by the nasal shield (divided vs. entire). Ramphotyphlops mollyozakiae can be separated from I. jerdoni by its postoculars (1 vs. 2) and from I. lankaensis by its higher number of total middorsals (> 290 vs. <265).

Distribution: Southeastern Thailand and Sumatra, Indonesia, 385–1000 m.