Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence

The blindsnake superfamily Typhlopoidea (Gerrhopilidae, Typhlopidae, and Xenotyphlopidae) is a diverse, widespread part of the global snake fauna. A recent systematic revision based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and some morphological evidence presented a preliminary solution to the non-monophyly of many previously recognized genera, but additional clarification is needed regarding the recognition of some species and genera. We rectify these problems here with a new molecular phylogenetic analysis including 95 of the 275 currently recognized, extant typhlopoids, incorporating both nuclear and mitochondrial loci. We supplement this with data on the external, visceral, and hemipenial morphology of nearly all species to generate a revised classification for Typhlopoidea. Based on morphological data, we re-assign Cathetorhinus from Typhlopidae to Gerrhopilidae. Xenotyphlopidae maintains its current contents (Xenotyphlops). In Typhlopidae, one monotypic genus is synonymized with its lar...

盲蛇总科（Typhlopoidea）包含尖盲蛇科（Gerrhopilidae）、盲蛇科（Typhlopidae）与异盲蛇科（Xenotyphlopidae），是全球蛇类区系中多样性丰富且分布广泛的类群。近期一项基于分子系统发育分析（molecular phylogenetic analyses）与部分形态学证据（morphological evidence）的系统学修订研究，为诸多此前被认定的属的非单系性（non-monophyly）问题提供了初步解决方案，但部分物种与属的界定仍需进一步厘清。本研究通过一项新的分子系统发育分析解决上述问题：本次分析涵盖当前已确认的275种现存盲蛇总科物种中的95种，纳入核基因座（nuclear loci）与线粒体基因座（mitochondrial loci）两类分子标记，并补充了几乎所有物种的外部形态、内脏形态及半阴茎形态（hemipenial morphology）数据，以此构建盲蛇总科的修订分类系统。基于形态学数据，我们将卡特盲蛇属（Cathetorhinus）从盲蛇科重新归属至尖盲蛇科。异盲蛇科维持其现有类群组成（仅含异盲蛇属Xenotyphlops）。在盲蛇科中，1个单型属（monotypic genus）被归并至其近缘类群……