Ramphotyphlops ID confirmation.

[GeckPhotographer]

This blindsnake was from near Pilliga, in NSW. Midbody scale count is 20+-1 in case I stuffed up and missed a scale etc. I've included a picture of the snout which I do not find to appear trilobed, however I have little experience with blindsnake snouts. I'm currently looking at the most likely ID to be R.proximus (which I've labelled it as for now) but would like someone else to agree that a "bluntly trilobed" snout looks like this to be sure.

Alternatively if someone has good experience with blindsnakes in that area and says this absolutely screams R.ligatus I would be happy to accept I had made a large mistake counting midbody scale rows.


Cheers.






Ramphotyphlops proximus by Stephen Mahony, on Flickr

 

[JrFear]

im gonna go with earth worm! lol
sorry mate no idea!!

 

[GeckPhotographer]

I should mention that if anyone wants closer pics of the snout in profile I have some.

 

[eipper]

Can you post the profile pick and one showing the tail

 

[SteveNT]

There is a pale yellow and grey banded one that's not on the books yet. I first came across it in an old cypress pine stump (6 of them) in Kakadu in the early 80's. Found one (1) twenty years later in the Arnhem escarpment south of Maningridaalso in a cypress stump. (cypress is the best mozzie repelant for your fire which is why a pull a few old stumps up )

 

[waruikazi]

There is a pale yellow and grey banded one that's not on the books yet. I first came across it in an old cypress pine stump (6 of them) in Kakadu in the early 80's. Found one (1) twenty years later in the Arnhem escarpment south of Maningridaalso in a cypress stump. (cypress is the best mozzie repelant for your fire which is why a pull a few old stumps up )

What is cypress?

 

[GeckPhotographer]

I'm afraid I do not have a picture of the tail, it did have a spine on the tail tip if that is what you wished to see.

 

[SteveNT]

Callitris intratropica. Cypress pine.

Used to be very widespread across the Top End. There was a huge industry logging it 1900-1930's. But a big one takes 300 years to grow. No insect will touch it. I have fossil cypress from 120 million years ago and same deal, absolute 0 insect damage.

Suffers in hot fires though. Restricted to grass free zones these days.

I love the smell of the burning wood, and moz and mij hate it! It also burns with beautiful green and blue flames!

 

[eipper]

The scent glands in proximus are visible on the lateral aspect of the tail.

It certainly looks similar to proximus but the head profile seems a little off. I will check a few of my images later tomorrow.

Cheers
scott

 

[Bluetongue1]

From what I can see of the scales on the head I would go with R. proximus. The head from above looks like it was taken slightly forward of the snake. As a result the weak trilobed shape does not show up. However, you can see it in the side profile, where the rostral is slightly in front of the nasal scales.

Blue

 

[waruikazi]

Any pictures Steve? There's some healthy cypress forests along the Maningrida rd after 3ways, i'll head out and find one. Then you can describe it, you could call it R. steveNTi.

 

[GeckPhotographer]

Any pictures Steve? There's some healthy cypress forests along the Maningrida rd after 3ways, i'll head out and find one. Then you can describe it, you could call it R. steveNTi.

It was me belief that the rules governing the naming of species didn't allow the author of a paper describing a new species to name that species after themselves.

 

[Jonno from ERD]

You're right - that's why you name them after your dog or daughter.

 

[Bluetongue1]

It was me belief that the rules governing the naming of species didn't allow the author of a paper describing a new species to name that species after themselves.

I think we all know a certain someone who has not stuck to that rule...

Blue

 

[Klaery]

It was me belief that the rules governing the naming of species didn't allow the author of a paper describing a new species to name that species after themselves.

Not a rule. It is just considered a really selfish/tool thing to do. People have done it but they are laughed at. The name is usually to honour someone (like your supervisor or the original finder if Steve was to pass some on to a taxonomist).