Karnataka burrowing snake

The Karnataka burrowing snake (Pseudoplectrurus canaricus) is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to India.

Karnataka burrowing snake

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Uropeltidae
Genus: Pseudoplectrurus
Boulenger, 1890
Species:
P. canaricus
Binomial name
Pseudoplectrurus canaricus
(Beddome, 1870)
Synonyms

Geographic range

It is found in southern India.

Type locality: "South Canara, [...] on the top of the Kudra Mukh, a mountain 6000 feet high" (elevation).

Description

Dorsum brownish violet, each scale usually paler in the center. Lips yellow, some yellow blotches on the anterior sides of the body, and in some specimens small yellow spots on the back. Ventral surface of tail yellow, with in some specimens a black median streak.

Adults may attain a total length of 43 cm (17 inches).

Dorsal scales arranged in 15 rows at midbody, in 19 rows behind the head. Ventrals 172-188; subcaudals 6-13.

Snout obtuse. Portion of the rostral visible from above shorter than its distance from the frontal. Nasals in contact with each other, forming a suture behind the rostral. No supraoculars. Frontal longer than broad. Diameter of eye less than ½ the length of the ocular shield. Diameter of body 32 to 43 times in the total length. Ventrals less than 2 times as large as the contiguous scales. Tail laterally compressed. Dorsal scales on the tail smooth or weakly pluricarinate. Terminal scute laterally compressed, with two superposed points, which are simple or bifid.[4]

Footnotes
  1. Srinivasulu, B., Srinivasulu, C., Ganesan, S.R. & Vijayakumar, S.P. 2018. Pseudoplectrurus canaricus (amended version of 2013 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T172642A127965142. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T172642A127965142.en. Downloaded on 04 December 2018.
  2. Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Uropeltidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, p. 160.
  3. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  4. Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Uropeltidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. p. 160, Plate X., Figures 1. & 1a.

Further reading
  • Beddome, R.H. 1870. Descriptions of new Reptiles from the Madras Presidency. Madras Monthly J. Med. Sci., 2: 169–176. [Reprint: J. Soc. Bibliogr. Nat. Sci., London, 1 (10): 327–334, 1940]
  • Beddome, R.H. 1886. An Account of the Earth-Snakes of the Peninsula of India and Ceylon. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) 17: 3-33.


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