Uropeltis dindigalensis

Uropeltis dindigalensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Uropeltidae
Genus: Uropeltis
Species: U. dindigalensis
Binomial name
Uropeltis dindigalensis
(Beddome, 1877)
Synonyms

Uropeltis dindigalensis, commonly known as the Sirumalai Hills earth snake or the Dindigul Uropeltis, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to India.

Geographic range

It is found in southern India (Sirumalai Hills, Madura District, 4,000-5,000 feet)

Type locality = "Heavy forest on the Sirumullay hills, near Dindigul, at 4000–5000 feet elevation".

Description

Dorsum yellowish with small dark brown spots, the yellow scales dark-edged. A yellow streak on the labials, continuing along each side of the neck. Ventrum dark brown with yellow spots or yellow short crossbars. Ventral surface of tail yellow.

The largest of the type specimens is 35.5 cm (14 inches) in total length.

Dorsal scales in 19 rows behind the head, in 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals 156-168; subcaudals 5-10.

Snout acutely pointed. Rostral laterally compressed, about two fifths the length of the shielded part of the head, the portion visible from above much longer than its distance from the frontal. Nasals in contact with each other behind the rostral. Frontal longer than broad. Eye very small, not half the length of the ocular shield. Diameter of the body 26 to 32 times in the total length. Ventrals twice as broad as the contiguous scales. Tail obliquely truncate, flat dorsally, with strongly pluricarinate scales. Terminal scute with a transverse ridge and two points.[3]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B.; Ganesan, S.R. & Vijayakumar, S.P. (2013). "Uropeltis dindigalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. ↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org
  3. ↑ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Uropeltidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural HIstory). London. p. 152, Plate VII., figure 1.

Further reading

  • Beddome, R.H. 1877. Descriptions of three new Snakes of the Family Uropeltidæ from Southern India. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1877: 167-168.
  • Beddome, R.H. 1886. An Account of the Earth-Snakes of the Peninsula of India and Ceylon. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) 17: 3-33.
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