Kingdom Animalia Suborder Serpentes Genus Uropeltis Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Uropeltidae Scientific name Uropeltis phipsonii Higher classification Uropeltis Order Scaled reptiles | |
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Similar Uropeltis, Uropeltis macrolepis, Uropeltis pulneyensis, Plectrurus guentheri, Scaled reptiles | ||
Uropeltis phipsonii, commonly known as Phipson's shieldtail, is a species of snake endemic to India.
Contents
Etymology
Both the specific name, phipsonii, and the common name, Phipson's shieldtail, are in honor of British naturalist Herbert Musgrave Phipson, one of the founders of the Bombay Natural History Society.
Geographic range
It is found in the Western Ghats, reported at several localities around Maharashtra including hills around Mumbai and Pune.
Description
Cylindrical-bodied, smooth-scaled, head narrower than the neck. Tail very short, appears to be cut slant-wise. A broad yellow stripe on each side of the tail.
Brown dorsally and ventrally, either uniform or with yellowish dots. A short yellow streak on each side beginning at the corner of the mouth. A yellow crossbar across the vent connecting the yellow stripes on the sides of the tail.
Adults may attain 28 cm (11 inches) in total length.
Dorsal scales arranged in 17 rows at midbody, in 19 rows behind the head. Ventrals 144-157; subcaudals 7-12.
Snout obtusely pointed. Rostral ⅓ the length of the shielded part of the head. Portion of the rostral visible from above longer than its distance from the frontal. Nasals in contact with each other behind the rostral. Frontal longer than broad. Diameter of eye more than ½ the length of the ocular shield. Diameter of body 28 to 38 times in the total length. Ventrals nearly twice as large as the contiguous scales. End of tail flat dorsally, obliquely truncate, with strongly bicarinate or quadricarinate scales. Terminal scute with a transverse ridge and two points.
Behaviour
Largely unknown, lives underground, a burrower. Active above ground after heavy rains. Eats earthworms. A docile snake that has many predators including birds and wild boar.