A New Species of Leposternon (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) from Brazilian Cerrado with a Key to Pored Species

Abstract A new species of Leposternon is described from the Brazilian Cerrado, with records from the municipalities of Buritizeiro and Joao Pinheiro, state of Minas Gerais, central Brasil. The new species has precloacal pores and pectorals scales mostly diamond shaped, and these characteristics distinguish it from all congeners except Leposternon cerradensis, Leposternon kisteumacheri, Leposternon maximus, and Leposternon polystegum. It differs from the pored Leposternon species by a combination of external morphology and dental features. The morphology of the new species is similar to other species of the genus Leposternon with precloacal pores.