Additional information on Ramphotyphlops aspina Couper, Covacevich & Wilson 1998 (Reptilia: Typhlopidae), a poorly known blind snake from the Mitchell Grass Downs of Queensland E.P. VANDERDUYS CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, ATSIP PMB PO, Aitkenvale Qld 4814. Email: [email protected] Citation: Vanderduys, E.P. 2013 06 30. Additional information on Ramphotyphlops aspina Couper, Covacevich & Wilson 1998 (Retilia: 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. Accepted: 24 September 2012 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. (cid:9633) blind snake, Ramphotyphlops aspina, Mitchell Grass Downs, Queensland. A Ramphotyphlops specimen collected near Julia of rostral scales of all specimens were measured Creek in the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion from above. of central Queensland is described. This QMJ91822 was collected under a small rock specimen closely conforms morphologically from relatively featureless open plains, south of to Ramphotyphlops aspina Couper, Covacevich Julia Creek at approximately 20.77°S, 141.74°E & Wilson, 1998. Prior to this specimen, only (GDA94). Collection locations for all specimens two individuals of R. aspina were known, both of Ramphotyphlops aspina were checked against from near Barcaldine, also in the Mitchell Grass Regional Ecosystem (RE) mapping in the Downs. These are the holotype (QMJ51541) Queensland Regional Ecosystem Description and a paratype (QMJ7). This third specimen Database (Environmental Protection Agency represents a known-range extension of 470 2005). km for R. aspina. It is in the collection of the Queensland Museum, registered asQMJ91822. Area calculations for minimum convex polygon and RE extents were calculated using XTools Pro in ESRI ArcMap 10.0. For area calcu¬ MATERIALS AND METHODS lations, Geoscience Australia Lambert projection Measurements were taken with a Sontax in GDA1994 was used. Digital caliper. As well as comparing QMJ91822 with the original description of Ramphotyphlops RESULTS aspina (Couper et al. 1998), direct comparison was made with the holotype and paratype, Specimen QMJ91822 conforms closely to the to see if any obvious differences could be description given in Couper et al (1998) as follows: discerned. Length, and width at widest point, lacks a caudal spine (Fig. 1); 18 midbody scale Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature • 2013 • 56(2) • www.qm.qld.gov.au 615 Vanderduys from the side; rostral scale elongate, tapering slightly caudally both above and below (38% of head width, as measured at widest dorsal part of rostral); rostral narrower underneath the head (23.5% of head width as measured at the level of the eye) and with parallel margins; rostral length/width from above = 1.44 (QM J51541 = 1.44, QMJ7 = 1.36); nasals broadly separated by prefrontal; prefrontal larger than frontal; supraoculars broadly separated by frontal; nostrils inferior and near snout apex with nasal cleft extending to second supralabial, and also extending dorsally so that it is visible FIG. 1. Ramphotyphlops aspina tail tip showing lack from above; eye small and distinct in life but of terminal spine. Arrow shows position of vent. almost indistinguishable in preservative, loc¬ QMJ91822 after preservation. ated below ocular/supraocular junction; caudally, the ocular overlaps two postoculars rows; 437 ventrals scales; 14 subcaudal scales, and parietal; first supralabial the smallest, not including terminal scale; SVL 226 mm; tail overlapped by rostral lobe of nasal; second length 6mm (2.6% SVL); body width 3.7 mm supralabial larger, overlapped by rostral (1.6% SVL); head width 2.5 mm (1.1% SVL); lobe and caudal lobe of nasal and preocular; a bluntly rounded snout when viewed from third supralabial slightly larger than second, above; head slightly flattened when viewed overlapped by preocular, and overlapping FIG. 2. Ramphotyphlops aspina, QMJ91822 colour in life. 616 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature • 2013 • 56(2) Additional information on Ramphotyphlops aspina (cid:9632) km 100 150 200 • JULIA CREEK^h . QMJ91822 MITCHELL GRASS DOWNS vji !• I • - — • ' QMJ51541 BARCALDINE TOWNSVILLE L’t'&.&v* '.•SvV'.vf: ' area enlarged BRISBANE FIG. 3. Map showing locations of all known specimens (QMJ numbers) of Ramphotyphlops aspina. ocular for about 1/3 of supralabial's height; abundant on lower surfaces of nasals, but none fourth supralabial much the largest, elongate, visible on lower surface of rostral; glands not overlapped by ocular; mental the same width visible along margins of head shields. as postmental; infralabials three, with the third being slightly larger than the first two; Colour in Life. The overall appearance of microtubercles of head sparse, but most the live specimen was a light pink colour Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature • 2013 • 56(2) 617 Vanderduys FIG. 4. Astrebla grassland south of Julia Creek, where QMJ91822 was collected. Photo courtesy Stephen Malone Photography. (Fig. 2). The scales towards the anterior and previous museum specimens. Specimen QMJ7 posterior of the animal have a pattern of a was donated to the Queensland Museum in 1911 curved darker band around the base, which is (Couper et al. 1998) and is not well preserved. visible through the overlying scale. This gives Specimen QMJ51541 was donated in 1990 and the appearance of posterior scales overlapping was formalin fixed with no genetic vouchers those anterior to them, when the opposite taken. Thus, identification of QMJ91822 is entirely reliant upon morphological characters. is the case. The pattern is present, but much However, given the close conformity of reduced, in the midbody region. This pattern QMJ91822 to the original description there can is present, but much faded, in QMJ7 and QM be little doubt that it is R. aspina. J51541. Colour is slightly paler ventrally, with some internal organs visible as darker patches The location of QMJ91822 represents a known- under the scales. The eyes are visible as small range extension of approximately 470 km to the northwest of the previous specimens (Fig. 3). and distinct dark spots beneath the margin of the supraocular and ocular scales. The tongue Mitchell Grass grasslands, which dominate the is a uniform translucent cream. Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion, have relatively low vertebrate richness (Sattler & Williams DISCUSSION 1999). Despite its vast area, approximately 13.8% of Queensland, there are relatively few Ramphotyphlops aspina is a poorly known endemic species. Among the reptiles there are species, but distinctive for being the only five specialists of Mitchell Grass grasslands on Australian Typhlopid snake lacking a terminal cracking clay soil (Ctenotus agrestis, C. schevilli, tail spine (Couper et al. 1998). Unfortunately, Pogona henrylawsoni, Varanus spenceri, Psendechis genetic material is not available for the two couetti, Sattler & Williams 1999; Wilson 2005), that 618 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature • 2013 • 56(2) Additional information on Ramphotyphlops aspina are endemic, or nearly so, to the Mitchell Grass point was what initially alerted the author to Downs bioregion. The three known specimens the fact that the snake was R. aspina. of Ramphotyphlops aspina were collected within Blind snakes are an extremely secretive group, the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion (Fig. 3; with 10 of Australia's 42 species (R. batillus, Sattler & Williams, 1999), suggesting R. aspina howi, longissimus, margaretae, micromma, nema, may be a Mitchell Grass Downs endemic. robertsi, splendidus, yampiensis, yirrikalae) being QMJ91822 was collected from open treeless known from one specimen or one location only. plains south of the town of Julia Creek. Ground For many of these species it is highly likely that layer vegetation was dominated by Mitchell targeted surveys will uncover more records and Grasses Astrebla spp. The area is mapped as locations that will extend the known extents of regional ecosystem 4.9.1; "Astrebla lappacea occurrence as has happened with R. aspina. ± Aristida latifolia ± Panicum decomposition grassland on fresh cretaceous sediments. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Deep grey and brown cracking soil." (Sattler & Williams, 1999), and this is consistent with the Thanks to Patrick Couper (Queensland ground layer species composition observed Museum), Tony Grice and Chris Pavey (CSIRO) at the point of collection (Fig. 4). QMJ51541 for reviewing the manuscript ana making was from mixed REs 4.9.2 and 4.9.1 which are valuable comments. Thanks to Stephen Malone both Astrebla spp. grasslands on cracking clay (Stephen Malone Photography, Julia Creek) for soils. QMJ7 was from near the boundary of RE the habitat photograph and for interesting and 4.9.1 and a mix of several REs which include ongoing discussion regarding Mitchell Grass open woodlands of Eucalyptus spp. and Acacia Downs wildlife. The production and writing cambagei, and Atriplex spp. or Astrebla spp. of this manuscript was supported by funding grasslands in am alluvial landzone. from the CSIRO Building Resilient Australian Biodiversity Assets Theme and the Division of Ramphotyphlops aspina is not listed under Ecosystem Sciences. Australian or Queensland legislation (Australian Government, 1999; Queensland Government, LITERATURE CITED 2006) or the IUCN Red List (1UCN, 2012). Accad A., Neldner V. J., Wilson B. A. & Niehus R. E. With three known specimens, R. aspina could (2006) Remnant Vegetation in Queensland. Analysis reasonably be listed as Data Deficient. However, of remnant vegetation 1997-1999-2000-2001- it seems likely that R. aspina fits the criteria for 2003, including regional ecosystem information. classification as Least Concern. A minimum (Queensland Herbarium, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane). convex polygon between the three records Australian Government. (1999) Environment gives an area of 5284 km2. A reasonable estimate Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. of suitable habitat area is probably the extent of Cogger H. G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of REs 4.9.1 and 4.9.2, both of which have greater Australia. (Reed New Holland, Sydney). than 30% of original extent remaining and are Couper P. J., Covacevich J. A. & Wilson S. K. 1998. subject to little on-going clearing (Accad et al. Two new species of Ramphotyphlops (Squamata: 2006; Sattler & Williams 1999). The estimated Typhlonidae) from Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 42: 459-64. area dominated by either of these REs is 79634 Environmental Protection Agency. (2005) Regional km2, which is approximately 33% of the area of Ecosystem Description Database (REDD). the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion. IUCN. (2012) IUCN Red List of threatened species. http://ivzvw.iucnredlist.org/. Species Survival QMJ91822 was notable because it did not, Commision, Gland, Switzerland. despite a significant amount of handling (inc¬ Queensland Government. (2006) Nature Conservation luding close observation with a hand lens to (Wildlife) Regulation 2006. attempt identification), emit the foul-smelling Sattler P. & Williams R. (1999) The Conservation liquid from its anal gland that is the usual Status of Queensland's Bioregional Ecosystems. behaviour in Ramphotyphlops (pers. ohs.; Cogger, (Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane, 2000). It also did not dig the tail tip into the Queensland). author's hand, a common behaviour in blind Wilson S. (2005) A Field Guide to Reptiles of Queensland. snakes when captured (pers. obs.). This second (Reed New Holland Sydney). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature • 2013 • 56(2) 619