Uncover the Underground: Taxonomic Status of Blind Snakes in Hong Kong

Fossorial fauna, animals that live underground, are among the most understudied vertebrate groups locally and globally. Their ecological importance in shaping the subterranean habitat may be invisible, yet indispensable to nature. In Hong Kong, the taxonomic status of two blind snake species, the Hong Kong Blind Snake (Indotyphlops lazelli) and the White-headed Blind Snake (I. albiceps) is questionable given the rarity of specimens and lack of genetic studies. In this study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis to determine if the population referred to as I. albiceps is a new species and I. lazelli is a valid species. Regular fieldwork of different sampling methods has been conducted in their distributed sites, the collected specimens were then examined and analysed. We found that there is a significant genetic difference between the populations of I. albiceps in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. This result suggests that the Hong Kong population represent a new, cryptic species. Indotyphlops lazelli also showed a significant disparity between other congeners, confirming I. lazelli as a valid species. The research outcome shed light on the taxonomic and conservation status of the threatened fossorial reptiles; it can be a leverage, benchmarking an up-to-date conservation strategy for fossorial reptiles against future developments in Hong Kong. Without a referable ecological baseline, they could be particularly vulnerable to ongoing urbanisation and are possibly on the brink of extinction.