The Leptotyphlops nigricans species group

This group is distinguished by the presence of a discrete prefrontal shield, a small anterior supralabial, a large posterior supralabial that reaches the level of the eye, 10 scale rows round the tail, which has a small apical spine, a subtriangular cloacal shield and uniform dark brown to black colouration above and below (sometimes chin and tail tip whitish). The robust skull usually has fused parietals, but they are paired in Leptotyphlops mbanjensis sp. nov., the latter species also retaining a postparietal bone.