Class Reptilia Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
Similar Aspidura, Aspidura trachyprocta, Lycodon carinatus, Scaled reptiles, Dryocalamus nympha | ||
Aspidura guentheri, commonly known as Günther's rough-sided snake or කුඩා මැඩිල්ලා (kuda medilla) in Sinhala, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to Sri Lanka. It is the smallest member of the genus Aspidura.
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Etymology
The specific name, guentheri, is in honor of German-born British herpetologist Albert Günther.
Geographic range
A. guentheri is a burrowing snake restricted to the lowlands of Sri Lanka. Localities recorded include Ratnapura, Deniyaya, Yapitikanda, Kandilpana, Kosgama, Kalutara, and Balangoda at elevations of 100–500 m (330–1,640 ft).
Description
Head indistinct from neck, body cylindrical. Dorsum brown, mottled with dark brown. Forehead dark. A pale neck band present. Vertebral and lateral rows of dark spots. Venter light brown.
Scalation
Midbody dorsal scale rows 17. Preoculars present. A single postocular in contact with parietal. Ventrals 103-122. Subcaudals 18-29.
Ecology
Diet comprises mainly earthworms.
Reproduction
Clutches of 1 to 3 eggs are laid.