A New Species of Caecilian in the Genus Boulengerula from Endau Hill in South-Eastern Kenya

Abstract

Abstract A new species of herpelid caecilian, Boulengerula endauensis sp. nov. is described from Endau Hill Forest, Kitui County, Kenya. The new species differs from all other Boulengerula species in having tentacles that are positioned equidistant between the corner of the mouth and snout tip. It can also be distinguished by its body colour, which is predominantly brownish pink as compared to the others, the majority of which are bluish to purple. The new species is very similar to B. denhardti in body colour and both species have a high average number (> 160) of body rings (annular grooves). Boulengerula endauensis sp. nov. differs from B. denhardti by having a lower body length to body width ratio and more posteriorly positioned tentacles on the head. Boulengerula denhardti occurs in the Tana River Delta area in Lake Kenyatta forest-Lamu at the coastal strip about 250 kilometres to the south-east from B. endauensis. The discovery of this species, on an isolated arid montane rocky hill, influenced by the Indian Ocean moist winds, may indicate that characteristically similar hills could harbour additional new Boulengerula species.