A prokinetic skull is known to exhibit a joint that passes through the dermatocranium, but anterior to the orbits, allowing a dorsoventral flexion of the snout complex elements (Kardong, 2018 Rieppel, 2007). Such variation is typically categorized into five types of skull kinesis and is based on the transcranial hinge location: prokinesis, mesokinesis, metakinesis, hypokinesis and streptostyly (Frazzeta, 1962 Kardong, 2018 Moazen et al., 2009 Schwenk, 2000). Squamates are known for their highly kinetic skulls, which vary in terms of their degree of mobility as well as the location of motion (Frazzeta, 1962 Kardong, 2018 Moazen, Curtis, O'Higgins, Evans, & Fagan, 2009 Schwenk, 2000). We also discuss possible osteological data that might be systematically relevant for Typhlopidae both interspecifically and intergenerically. punctatus is similar to other blindsnakes in lacking any trace of snout, or even a frontal–parietal articulation. punctatus based on CT-scan images of five specimens, evaluating the skull morphology and inferred function, and also providing valuable discussion on the skull osteology of the genus. Given such observations, herein we aim to describe in detail the skull of A.
Although typically known for the absence of any kinetic joint in the skull dermatocranium and neurocranium-mostly due to an adaptation to fossorial habit, literature data have previously suggested a possible cranial kinesis for individuals of Afrotyphlops punctatus based on observations of live and preserved individuals. “Scolecophidians” are traditionally known for their several skull and lower jaw autapomorphies, being conspicuously different from alethinophidian snakes in terms of skull shape and function.
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