Rhinophis erangaviraji

Rhinophis erangaviraji, or Eranga Viraj's shieldtail snake, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka and discovered from Rakwana area of Matara District.[1]

Rhinophis erangaviraji
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Uropeltidae
Genus: Rhinophis
Species:
R. erangaviraji
Binomial name
Rhinophis erangaviraji
L. Wickramasinghe, Vidanapathirana,
N. Wickramasinghe & Ranwella, 2009

Description

The species is easily identified by other shieldtails in Sri Lanka through color variations. Head is black with yellow irregular spots. Eyes are black. Body is black dorsally with some yellow irregular patches. Ventral surface is creamy colored with a stripe running along the vent region. Shield is black with small spines in it, which helps to gather sand particles. Mating may occur during July or more August, where juveniles can be seen from October to January. Juveniles are much similar to adults, but with more dark head and paler body.

Etymology

The specific name, erangaviraji, is in honor of Sri Lankan zoologist Eranga Viraj Dayarathne, who was an Instructor of the Reptiles group of the Young Zoologists’ Association of Sri Lanka, and Department of National Zoological Gardens.[2]

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References
  1. Rhinophis erangaviraji at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 31 May 2020.
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Rhinophis erangaviraji, p. 84).

Further reading
  • Wickramasinghe, L. J. Mendis; Vidanapathirana, Dulan Ranga; Wickramasinghe, Nethu; Ranwella, P. Nayanaka (2009). "A new species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Reptilia: Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from Rakwana massif, Sri Lanka". Zootaxa 2044: 1-22. (Rhinophis erangaviraji, new species).


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