Platyplectrurus madurensis

Platyplectrurus madurensis
Conservation status
	; Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Uropeltidae
Genus:	Platyplectrurus
Species:	P. madurensis
Binomial name
	Platyplectrurus madurensis; Beddome, 1877
Synonyms
	Wallia inexpectata; F. Werner, 1925; Platyplectrurus ruhanae; Deraniyagala, 1954;

Last updated March 06, 2023

Platyplectrurus madurensis, commonly known as the Travancore Hills thorntail snake, Palni purple-brown worm thorntail snake, or Madurai shieldtail, is a species of uropeltid snake. It is found in southern India ^[1] and, depending on the source, Sri Lanka.^[2]

Geographic range

P. madurensis is found in the Western Ghats of India and in Sri Lanka.

Type locality of Platyplectrurus madurensis: "About Kodiukarnal on the Pulney Mountains (Madura district), 6000 feet elevation".

Type locality of Wallia inexpectata: "Südindien (Pulney Hills, Madura)".

Type locality of Platyplectrurus ruhanae: "Galle" district in the Southern Province, Sri Lanka.^[2]

Description

The dorsum of P. madurensis is iridescent purplish brown. The ventrals and the scales in the two adjoining rows on both sides are white in the center, with purplish brown borders.

The longest of Beddome's type specimens measures 35 cm (13+3⁄4 in) in total length (including tail).

The dorsal scales are in 15 rows at midbody (in 17 rows behind the head). The ventrals number 158-175; and the subcaudals, 10–15.

P. madurensis is very similar to P. trilineatus , except the head shields are shorter, and the supraocular is not longer than the prefrontal. Diameter of body 38-42 times in total length.^[3]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate race.

Platyplectrurus madurensis madurensis Beddome, 1877
Platyplectrurus madurensis ruhanae Deraniyagala, 1954^[2]^[4]

The subspecific name, ruhanae, refers to the Ancient Sri Lankan Kingdom of Ruhuna (also spelled Ruhana).^[5] Some sources consider it to be a separate species.^[1]

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References

1 2 3 Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B.; Ganesan, S.R. (2013). "Platyplectrurus madurensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T178420A1533817. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T178420A1533817.en.
1 2 3 4 Platyplectrurus madurensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 November 2016.
↑ Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Uropeltidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Platyplectrurus madurensis, p. 166 + Plate XI, figures 2, 2a).
↑ "Platyplectrurus madurensis ". Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de.
↑ 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. (Platyplectrurus madurensis ruhanae, p. 228).