| Plectrurus aureus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Uropeltidae |
| Genus: | Plectrurus |
| Species: | P. aureus |
| Binomial name | |
| Plectrurus aureus Beddome, 1880 | |
Plectrurus aureus, commonly known as the Kerala burrowing snake or Kerala shieldtail, [1] is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to India.
It is found in southwestern India in the Western Ghats.
Type locality: "Chambra mountain in Wynad, near Kalpatty - one under an old rotten log at 6,000 feet elevation, the other under a large stone at 4,500 feet, both in heavy evergreen forest".
Dorsum gold-colored, the scales edged with violet; a few irregular narrow violet-black crossbars may be present. Ventrum brighter gold-colored, with violet-black crossbands or alternating spots.
Adults may attain a total length of 40 cm (15+3⁄4 in).
Ventrals 164–177; subcaudals 8–12.
Scalation very similar to Plectrurus guentheri , except the ventrals are two times as broad as the contiguous scales. Diameter of body 39 to 44 times in the total length. [2]
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