(Uropeltidae)
Shield-Tailed Snakes
Щитохвостові
The Uropeltidae, also commonly known as shield-tail snakes, shield-tailed snakes or earth snakes, are a family of primitive, nonvenomous, burrowing snakes native to Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Seven or eight genera are recognized, depending on whether Teretrurus rhodogaster is treated in its own genus or as part of Brachyophidium. The family comprises over 50 species. These snakes are not well known in terms of their diversity, biology, and natural history.
Description
Snakes in the family Uropeltidae are small snakes, with adults growing to a total length (including tail) of 20–75 cm. They are adapted to a fossorial way of life, which is apparent in their anatomy. The skull is primitive and inflexible, with a short, vertical quadrate bone and rigid jaws; the coronoid bone is still present in the lower jaw. The orbital bones are absent, the supratemporal is vestigial, and the eyes are small and degenerate, not covered by a brille, but by large polygonal shields. However, the pelvis and hind limbs, the presence of which is also considered a primitive trait, have disappeared in this family.
The tail is characteristic, ending in either an enlarged rigid scale with two points, or more often an upper surface with a subcircular area covered with thickened spiny scales, or a much enlarged spiny plate. The ventral scales are much reduced in size. The body is cylindrical and covered with smooth scales.
Behaviour and natural history
Many species of shield-tail snakes are rather poorly known in terms of natural history. Field studies indicate that most species are obligate burrowers and may often come out on to soil surface during rainy nights. Even roadkills of these snakes have been recorded by field biologists during peak monsoon rains. They seem to prefer the humus-rich topsoil layers and rarely burrow deeper inside (like during very hot or dry weather).
When approached by predators, these snakes do not bite like most snakes, but coil their bodies into a ball and hide their heads tucked underneath. Some may poke with their harmless tail tip, like a worm snake. Many have a drab and dull-coloured back, but a very bright, contrastingly coloured underside (such as bright yellow, red, etc.) to startle predators by turning upside down and twitching. This aposematic colouration wards off would-be predators.
Feeding
The diets of shield-tail snakes consist mostly of invertebrates, particularly earthworms, and many species have actually been observed in the wild by researchers to eat earthworms. Frank Wall, who dissected many species for analysing the gut contents to study the diet, remarks about the presence of worms and mud.
Reproduction
All members of the family Uropeltidae retain eggs that hatch within the body of the mother (ovoviviparity).
(Melanophidium bilineatum)
Two-lined Black Earth Snake
Щитохвіст чорний двосмуговий
It is found in Wayanad, Kannur, Malappuram districts of Kerala which is situated in the Western Ghats in southern India.
(Melanophidium khairei)
Khaire's Black Earth Snake
Чорний щитохвіст Кхайра
It is found in western India, in the northern Western Ghats of Goa and Maharashtra States.
(Melanophidium punctatum)
Beddome's Black Earth Snake
Чорний щитохвіст Беддоума
It is found in the Western Ghats between Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary in the north and Kanyakumari district (Tamil Nadu) in the south.
(Melanophidium wynaudense)
Indian Black Earth Snake
Щитохвіст індійський чорний
It is found in the Western Ghats of southern India.
(Platyplectrurus madurensis)
Madurai Shieldtail
Щитохвіст мадурайський
It is found in the Western Ghats of India and in Sri Lanka.
(Platyplectrurus trilineatus)
Three-lined Shieldtail
Щитохвіст трисмуговий
It is found in southern India in the southern Western Ghats in the Anamalai Hills of Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. It inhabits evergreen forests.
(Plectrurus aureus)
Kerala Burrowing Snake
Риюча змія керальська
It is found in south-western India in the Western Ghats.
(Plectrurus perroteti)
Nilgiri Burrowing Snake
Риюча змія нільгирійська
It is found in the Western Ghats and hills of southern India.
(Plectrurus guentheri)
Günther's Burrowing Snake
Риюча змія Гюнтера
It is found in the Western Ghats and associated hills of Kerala state, southern India, at elevations of around 1,100 m.
(Pseudoplectrurus canaricus)
Karnataka Burrowing Snake
Риюча змія карнатакська
It is found in southern India, in the state of Karnataka.
(Rhinophis blythii)
Blyth's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Бліта
It is found in Sri Lanka in the hills of the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Southern Province.
(Rhinophis drummondhayi)
Drummond-Hay's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Драммонда-Хея
It is found in Sri Lanka, in the hills of the Central and Uva Provinces. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 900–1,500 m.
(Rhinophis erangaviraji)
Eranga Viraj’s Shieldtail Snake
It is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it was discovered in the Rakwana area of Matara District. It inhabits forest and grassland at elevations of 900–1,300 m.
(Rhinophis fergusonianus)
Cardamom Hills Earth Snake
It is only known from the type specimen collected in the Cardamom Hills in Travancore, a part of the southern Western Ghats in modern Kerala, south-eastern India.
(Rhinophis goweri)
Gower's Shieldtail Snake
Щитохвіст Ґовера
It is endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu in South India. It inhabits tropical wet forests on higher slopes, at elevations of up to 1,370 m.
(Rhinophis gunasekarai)
Gunasekara’s Sheildtail
Щитохвіст Гунасекари
It is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it was discovered in the Matale District, Central Province.
(Rhinophis homolepis)
Trevelyan's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Тревельяна
It is found in Sri Lanka in the hills of Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura, Yatiyantota and Balangoda Hills below 900 m), the Central and Uva Provinces.
(Rhinophis karinthandani)
Karinthandan's Shield Tail
Щитохвіст Карінтандана
It is found in India, in the state of Kerala.
(Rhinophis lineatus)
Striped Rhinophis
Щитохвіст смугастий
It is endemic to Sri Lanka and only known from its type locality, Harasbedda near Ragala, Central Province, at elevations of 1,460 m.
(Rhinophis martin)
Martin’s Shieldtail
Щитохвіст Мартіна
It is found in Sri Lanka in the hills of Sabaragamuwa.
(Rhinophis melanogaster)
Gray's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Грея
It is found in Sri Lanka, in the hill regions of the Central Province.
(Rhinophis melanoleucus)
Bicoloured Shieldtail
Щитохвіст двоколірний
It is found in India, in the state of Kerala.
(Rhinophis mendisi)
Mendis' Shieldtail
Щитохвіст Мендіса
It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
(Rhinophis oxyrhynchus)
Schneider's Shieldtail
Щитохвіст Шнайдера
It is found in Sri Lanka in the Northern and Eastern Provinces (Mullaitivu, Vavoniya, Trincomalee).
(Rhinophis philippinus)
Peters' Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Петерса
It is found in Sri Lanka in the hills of Sabaragamuwa and the Central Provinces.
(Rhinophis phillipsi)
Phillipps' Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Філліпса
It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
(Rhinophis porrectus)
Willey's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Віллея
It is found in Sri Lanka, known only from the type locality in the North Western Province.
(Rhinophis punctatus)
Müller's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Мюллера
t is found in Sri Lanka, in the Central Province (Kandy, Peradeniya) and the Western Province (Puttalam).
(Rhinophis roshanpererai)
Roshan Perera's Shieldtail
Щитохвіст Рошана Перери
It is found in Sri Lanka, in the central hill region around Badulla.
(Rhinophis saffragamus)
Large Shieldtail Snake
Щитохвіст великий
It is found in Sri Lanka, in central and southern Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces, at elevations of up to 900 m.
(Rhinophis sanguineus)
Salty Earth Snake
It is found in southern India in the Western Ghats, including Mysore, Wayanad, the Nilgiris, Travancore, and the Tinnevelly Hills.
(Rhinophis tricoloratus)
It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
(Rhinophis siruvaniensis)
The genus (Rhinophis) also includes: Zigzag Rhinophis (Rhinophis zigzag), Tamil Nadu Earth Snake (Rhinophis travancoricus), Polkadot Earth Snake (Rhinophis dorsimaculatus), Dinarzarde’s Shieldtail (Rhinophis dinarzardae).
(Teretrurus hewstoni)
Hewston's Earth Snake
It is found in South India, in the Wayanad Range of the Western Ghats.
(Teretrurus rhodogaster)
Palni Mountain Burrowing Snake
It is found in South India, in the Western Ghats encompassing the Palni Hills.
(Teretrurus sanguineus)
Purple-red Earth Snake
It is found in southern India, in Wynaad, Travancore, the Manimuthar Hills, and Nyamakad, at elevations of 1,300–2,200 m.
(Teretrurus travancoricus)
Travancore Earth Snake
It is found in the Western Ghats of southern India.
(Uropeltis arcticeps)
Gunther's Shieldtail
Щитохвіст Гюнтера
It is found in the Western Ghats of southern India at elevations of up to 1,500 m.
(Uropeltis bhupathyi)
Bhupathy’s Shieldtail
Щитохвіст Бхупаті
It is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India.
(Uropeltis bicatenata)
Bicatenate Uropeltis
Щитохвіст дволанцюговий
It is found in Western India, in the Pune District of Maharashtra.
(Uropeltis caudomaculata)
Tailspot shieldtail
Щитохвіст плямистохвостий
It occurs in southern India, specifically in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
(Uropeltis ceylanica)
Kerala Shieldtail
Щитохвіст керальський
It is found in the Western Ghats of southern India from Goa, Castle Rock southwards to Travancore near Trivandrum.
(Uropeltis dindigalensis)
Sirumalai Hills Earth Snake
It is found only in Sirumalai, a part of the southern Eastern Ghats in the Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu, South India. It occurs in high-elevation wet forests at elevations of 1,200–1,400 m.
(Uropeltis ellioti)
Elliot's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Елліота
It is found in southern India, including the hills of Peninsular India, the Western Ghats, and the Eastern Ghats. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 100–1,400 m.
(Uropeltis jerdoni)
Jerdon’s Shieldtail Snake
Щитохвіст Джердона
It is known from the Devarayanadurga Hills, abutting the Bangalore suburbs in Bangalore Rural District and the bordering Tumkur District of Karnataka State in South India.
(Uropeltis liura)
Günther's Earth Snake
It is found in southern India, in the Madura and Tinnevelly Hills, at elevations of 910–1,520 m. It inhabits forests, but it has also been found in cardamom and tea plantations.
(Uropeltis macrolepis)
Bombay Earth Snake
Щитохвіст бомбейський
It is found in Maharashtra, India. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 10–1,350 m.
(Uropeltis maculata)
Spotted Earth Snake
Щитохвіст плямистий
It is found in southern India in the Western Ghats: Anaimalai Hills and southern Kerala, at altitudes of 1,800–2,100 m. It inhabits forest and grassland, but it has also been found in agricultural plantations.
(Uropeltis madurensis)
Madurai Shieldtail
Щитохвіст мадурський
It is endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. It inhabits montane forests, cloud forest and tropical rainforest, at altitudes of 1,300–1,600 m. It also occurs marginally in cardamom, coffee and tea plantations situated amidst primary forests.
(Uropeltis myhendrae)
Boulenger's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Буленжера
It is found in southern India, in the Western Ghats south of the Goa Gap, in the Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Travancore, at elevations of 600–1,220 m.
(Uropeltis ocellata)
Nilgiri Shieldtail Snake
Щитохвіст нільгирійський
It is found in southern India in the Western Ghats: south of the Goa Gap, Anaimalai, Cardamom, Munnar Hills, Nilgiri Hills and Trivandrum. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 600–2,000 m.
(Uropeltis phipsonii)
Phipson's Shieldtail
Щитохвіст Фіпсона
It is found in the Western Ghats, reported at several localities around Maharashtra including hills around Mumbai and Pune. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 400–700 m.
(Uropeltis pulneyensis)
Indian Earth Snake
Щитохвіст палнійський
It is found in the Southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India, in the Palni Hills, High Wavy Mountains, and Travancore hills, at elevations of 1,500–2,100 m.
(Uropeltis rajendrani)
Rajendran’s Shieldtail Snake
Щитохвіст Раджендрана
It is known only from a few hills in the southern Eastern Ghats, in Namakkal and the bordering Salem district of Tamil Nadu State in South India. It inhabits moist forest floor and under the humus-rich top soil, in humid forests.
(Uropeltis rubrolineata)
Red-lined Earth Snake
Щитохвіст червоносмугий
It is found in southern India in the Western Ghats: south of the Palghat to Bhimshankar and in the Anaimalai and Travancore Hills. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 400–1,500 m.
(Uropeltis rubromaculata)
Red-spotted Earth Snake
Щитохвіст червоноплямистий
It is found in southern India in the Western Ghats in the Anaimalai Hills and Nilgiri Hills. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 600–1,800 m.
(Uropeltis shorttii)
Shevaroy Hills Earth Snake
It is endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats of India. It is found only in the Shevaroy Hills of Salem district in Tamil Nadu state in South India. It inhabits forests at altitudes of 1,300–1,600 m.
(Uropeltis beddomii)
Beddome's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Беддоума
It is found in southern India, in the Anaimalai Hills.
(Uropeltis nitida)
Cochin Shieldtail
It is found in southern India in the Western Ghats on the Cochin side of the Anaimalai Hills, at elevations of 1,200–1,500 m.
(Uropeltis woodmasoni)
Woodmason's Earth Snake
Щитохвіст Вуд-Мейсона
It is found in southern India (Anamalai Hills and Palni Hills, Travancore, Tinnevelly, Nilgiris). It inhabits forests at altitudes of 1,800–2,000 m.
The genus (Uropeltis) also includes: Three-cusped Shieldtail (Uropeltis tricuspida), Shieldtail Earth Snake (Uropeltis petersi), Anamally Earth Snake (Uropeltis macrorhyncha), Smith’s Earth Snake (Uropeltis grandis), Brougham’s Earth Snake (Uropeltis broughami).
