Rhinophis sanguineus

Rhinophis sanguineus, commonly known as the salty earth snake, is a species of uropeltid snake found in the Western Ghats of India.

Rhinophis sanguineus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Uropeltidae
Genus: Rhinophis
Species:
R. sanguineus
Binomial name
Rhinophis sanguineus
Beddome, 1863
Synonyms

Description

Description after Beddome (1864: 178): "Scales of the body large, in 15 rows; of the anterior portion of the trunk sometimes in 17; rostral much produced, very sharp, conical, horny, produced back, and covering the conjunction of the nasals; nostril in front of nasal shield; eye very small and obscure, [located] in front [portion] of ocular shield; four upper labials, 1st small, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th large; caudal disk nearly as long as tail, oblong, covered with excrescences, a red streak down the centre and one on each side. Colour of the body bluish black; belly bright red, with blackish mottlings; anal bifid; subcaudals of the male 9 or 10 pairs, each with 4 to 6 keels, and some of the approximated ventral plates and a few of the two lowest rows of scales also keeled; female subcaudals 6 or 7. Total length of large male 13 inches [33 cm], female 10 inches [25.5 cm]; circumference 1 inch [25 mm]; abdominals 195. The brilliant red colour of the abdomen fades in spirits."

Description of Rhinophis microlepis after Beddome (1864: 179): "Scales of the body small, in 15 rows; of the anterior portion of the trunk in 17, of the neck in 19. Caudal disk oblong, orbicular, one-half the length of the tail, covered with excrescences, which are confluent into streaks; subcaudals 10; anal bifid; head-plates as in R. sanguineus, but rostral less sharp. Colour of the body greyish black, with indistinct dull yellowish white mottlings; belly yellowish white, with dark mottlings; tail beneath yellowish, with a broad black spot. Abdominals very small, 199. Total length 6 inches [15 cm]; circumference 6½ lines [14 mm]"

Geographic range

It is found in southern India (Mysore [Koppa, Kalsa], Wynaad, Nilgiris, Travancore, Tinnevelly).

Type locality of Rhinophis sanguineus: "Cherambady [Cherambody], in the Wayanad (Malabar), elevation 3,500 feet".

Type locality of Rhinophis microlepis: "Mr. Minchin's Estate in the Wayanad (elevation 3,500 feet)".[3]

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References
  1. 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. 143.
  2. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading
  • Beddome, R.H. 1863. Descriptions of New Species of the Family Uropeltidæ from Southern India, with Notes on other little-known Species. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1863: 225-229, Plates XXV., XXVI., XXVII.
  • Beddome, R.H. 1863. Further Notes upon the Snakes of the Madras Presidency; with some Descriptions of New Species. Madras Quart. J. Med. Sci., 6: 41-48 [Reprint: J. Soc. Bibliogr. Nat. Sci., London, 1 (10): 306-314, 1940].
  • Beddome, R.H. 1864. Description of New Species of the family Uropeltidae from Southern India, with Notes on other little-known Species. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) 13: 177-180.
  • 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.
  • Mason, George E. 1888. Description of a new earth-snake of the genus Silybura from the Bombay Presidency with remarks on little known Uropeltidae. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) 22: 184-186.
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