Uropeltis liura

Uropeltis liura, commonly known as Günther's earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to India.

Uropeltis liura

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Uropeltidae
Genus: Uropeltis
Species:
U. liura
Binomial name
Uropeltis liura
(Günther, 1875)
Synonyms

Geographic range

It is found in southern India (Madura and Tinnevelly HilIs, 3,000-5,000 feet).

Type locality: "Malabar".

Description

Dorsum purplish brown, with each scale darker-edged, and with transverse series of small yellow black-edged ocelli. Ventrum and sides with large alternating black and yellow spots or crossbands.

Adults may attain 32 cm (12 1⁄2 in) in total length.

Dorsal scales in 19 rows behind the head, in 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals 174-188; subcaudals 8-12.

Snout obtusely pointed. Rostral about ⅓ the length of the shielded part of the head, portion visible from above as long as its distance from the frontal. Nasals in contact with each other behind the rostral. Frontal longer than broad. Eye small, its diameter less than ½ the length of the ocular shield. Ventrals twice as wide as the contiguous scales. Tail round or slightly laterally compressed. Caudal dorsal scales smooth or with very faint keels. Terminal scute very small, with two points.[3]

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References
  1. Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B.; Vijayakumar, S.P. & Ganesan, S.R. (2013). "Uropeltis liura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T172634A1356366. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T172634A1356366.en. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 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. pp. 149-150.

Further reading
  • 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.
  • Günther, A. 1875. Second Report on Collections of Indian Reptiles obtained by the British Museum. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1875: 224-234.
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