Kingdom Animalia Suborder Serpentes Genus Uropeltis Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Uropeltidae Scientific name Uropeltis macrolepis Higher classification Uropeltis Order Scaled reptiles | |
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Similar Uropeltis, Uropeltis pulneyensis, Plectrurus guentheri, Scaled reptiles, Plectrurus | ||
Uropeltis macrolepis, commonly known as the Bombay earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to southern India.
Contents
Geographic range
It is found in Maharashtra (Phansad - near Supegaon, Mahabaleshwar, Koyna, Lonavla), India.
Type locality of Silybura macrolepis = "Ceylon?"
Type locality of Uropeltis macrolepis mableshwarensis = "Mahableshwar, Satara district, Bombay State", India.
Description
Black or dark purplish brown dorsally and ventrally, each scale lighter-edged. A yellow stripe on the lips and sides of the neck, followed by two to five large yellow spots. A yellow stripe along each side of the tail.
Adults may attain a total length of 29.5 cm (11 1⁄2 in).
Smooth dorsal scales in only 15 rows at midbody (in 17 rows behind the head). Ventrals 128-140; subcaudals 7-9.
Snout rounded. Rostral less than ¼ of the length of the shielded part of the head, portion visible from above shorter than its distance from the frontal. Nasals in contact with each other behind the rostral. Frontal as long as or slightly longer than broad. Diameter of eye more than ½ the length of the ocular shield. Diameter of body 24 to 29 times in the total length. Ventrals twice as large as the contiguous scales. End of tail obliquely truncate, flat dorsally, with strongly bicarinate scales. Terminal scale with a transverse ridge and two points.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate race.