Kingdom Animalia Infraclass Lepidosauromorpha Infraorder Serpentes Phylum Chordata Rank Species Subclass Diapsid | Subphylum Vertebrata Superorder Lepidosauria Family Colubridae Genus Aspidura Order Scaled reptiles | |
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Similar Aspidura, Dendrelaphis bifrenalis, Lycodon carinatus, Dryocalamus nympha, Boulenger's keelback | ||
Aspidura trachyprocta, the common rough-sided snake, known as දලව මැඩිල්ලා (dalawa medilla) in Sinhala, is a colubrid species endemic to Sri Lanka.
Contents
Destribution
A commonly encountered small burrowing snake from midhills to montane limits of central Sri Lanka. Localities recorded are Gammaduwa, Monaragala, Labukele, Nuwara Eliya, Harasbedda, Eskdale, Central Kandy, Pundaluoya, Longton Estate, Diyagama Estate, Nanu Oya, Sita Eliya, Ambewela, Pattipola, Hakgala, Horton Plains National Park, Namunukula, Kandy, Radella, Ramboda, and Diyatalawa at elevations of 750-2100m.
Description
Head indistinct from neck, body is cylindrical. Dorsum range from blackish brown to light reddish brown, with lateral stripes and 2–3 rows of dark dorsal spots. Venter varying from being heavily blotched with black to light yellow with a red tint and just blotched on midline.
Scalation
Midbody scale rows 15. Pre-oculars present. 2 Post-oculars contact with parietal. Ventrals 128-151. Subcaudals 11-26.
Ecology
Found in piles of humus, leaf litter and rotten timber, within agricultural lands.
Reproduction
4-12 eggs at a time, measuring 16 × 25mm.