Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Higher classification Plectrurus | |
Similar Plectrurus, Plectrurus guentheri, Uropeltis pulneyensis, Plectrurus perrotetii, Rhinophis sanguineus | ||
Plectrurus aureus, commonly known as the Kerala burrowing snake or Kerala shieldtail, is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to India.
Contents
Geographic range
It is found in southwestern India in the Western Ghats.
Type locality: "Chambra mountain in Wynad, near Kalpatty - one under an old rotten log at 6,000 feet elevation, the other under a large stone at 4,500 feet, both in heavy evergreen forest".
Description
Dorsum gold-colored, the scales edged with violet; a few irregular narrow violet-black crossbars may be present. Ventrum brighter gold-colored, with violet-black crossbands or alternating spots.
Adults may attain a total length of 40 cm (15 3⁄4 in).
Ventrals 164-177; subcaudals 8-12.
Scalation very similar to Plectrurus guentheri, except the ventrals are two times as broad as the contiguous scales. Diameter of body 39 to 44 times in the total length.