Molecular phylogeny, classification, and biogeography of snakes of the Family Leptotyphlopidae (Reptilia, Squamata) Author Adalsteinsson, Solny A. Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Lab, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 - 5301 USA. Author Branch, William R. Bayworld, P. O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013, South Africa Author Trape, Sébastien Laboratoire ECOLAG, UMR 5119, Université Montpellier II, cc 093, Place E. Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Author Vitt, Laurie J. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Zoology Department, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072, USA Corresponding author. E-mail: sbh 1 @ psu. edu Author Hedges, S. Blair Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Lab, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 - 5301 USA. sbh1@psu.edu text Zootaxa 2009 2009-10-01 2244 1 50 journal article 1175-5326 Subtribe Tetracheilostomina Hedges, Adalsteinsson, & Branch , New Subtribe Type genus. Tetracheilostoma Jan, 1861: 191 . Diagnosis. Tetracheilostomina is distinguished from the other two subtribes of Epictini by usually having four supralabials (two in Epictina and 2–3 in Renina ) (Table 2). The support for this group was 100% BP and 100% PP for the four-gene tree ( Fig. 3 ); only one of the two genera was included in the nine-gene tree ( Fig. 4 ). Content. Two genera and seven species ( Table 1 ; Fig. 7 ). Distribution. Tetracheilostomina is distributed in the West Indies: on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles, and on Martinique , Saint Lucia , and Barbados in the Lesser Antilles. Remarks. Tetracheilostomina includes species in the former " bilineatus Group" of " Leptotyphlops " ( Hedges 2008 ; Thomas 1965 ; Thomas et al. 1985 ). The high number (four) of supralabials is rare among leptotyphlopids, otherwise occurring only in Rhinoleptus . As a unifying character for this West Indian radiation it is further supported by the molecular phylogeny ( Fig. 3 ). However, the included species are considerably divergent in other scale characters, body size, and coloration. The species from Hispaniola have a high number of middorsal scales, are thin, and pale brown or pink in color. In contrast, the Lesser Antillean species have a low number of middorsals, are stout, and dark brown in color with dull yellowish stripes. The molecular phylogeny supports the distinction of these two groups of species and we recognize them here at the generic level.