title: Osteology and Cartilaginous Elements of Trilepida salgueiroi (Amaral, 1954) (Scolecophidia: Leptotyphlopidae).
abstract: Morphological and anatomical studies on the Leptotyphlopidae have increased in the past 10 years, providing important data on the systematics of this group, mainly focused on the skull and lower jaw morphology. However, most studies are based on a single specimen, rarely combining more than one single method of assessing morphological information. Therefore, several data on postcranial morphology, sexual dimorphism, and ontogenetic and intraspecific variation of leptotyphlopids remain poorly understood. Herein, we provide a detailed description of the cranial and postcranial skeleton of Trilepida salgueiroi based on more than 20 specimens (including males, females and juveniles), as well as a description of osteology and cartilaginous elements through the use of combined methodologies such as X-ray scanning, high resolution CT-scanning, and clearing and staining of articulated and disarticulated specimens. We also provide data on the presence/absence of dimorphic and intraspecific variation of the observed characters. The presence of a statolithic mass in the cavum vestibuli differs from the pattern found in other scolecophidians. A correlation of dorsal vertebrae with ventral and subcaudal scales was found (1:1), as well as total number of vertebrae with middorsal scales (1:1), thoracolumbar vertebrae and ventral scales (1:1), and a higher number of caudal vertebra with subcaudal scales (1.23:1). Intraspecific variation was found in several elements of the skull, lower jaw, pelvic girdle and vertebral number, but no evidence of sexual dimorphism was found in any of the species characters analysed. The homologies of several elements are discussed, although still remaining poorly understood and unknown.
authors.affiliation: Museu Nacional, Departamento De Vertebrados, Universidade Federal Do Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, 20940-040, Brazil.|Universidade Católica De Pernambuco, Rua Do Príncipe 526, Boa Vista, Recife, Pernambuco, 50050-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Museu Nacional, Departamento De Vertebrados, Universidade Federal Do Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, 20940-040, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angele R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Instituto De Biociências Departamento De Biologia E Zoologia, Universidade Federal Do Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, 78060-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.affiliation: Museu Nacional, Departamento De Vertebrados, Universidade Federal Do Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, 20940-040, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana de O
authors.initials: Lde O
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002356:Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: intraspecific variation; morphology; postcranial skeleton; serpentes; skull