Uropeltis dindigalensis
Encyclopedia
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
.
(Sirumalai Hills, Madura District, 4,000-5,000 feet)
Type locality = "Heavy forest on the Sirumullay hills, near Dindigul, at 4000–5000
feet elevation".
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.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Geographic range
It is found in southern IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(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.