| Zigzag Shieldtail | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Uropeltidae |
| Genus: | Rhinophis |
| Species: | R. zigzag |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhinophis zigzag Gower & Maduwage, 2011 | |
Rhinophis zigzag, or Zigzag Shieldtail, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
The Uropeltidae, the shieldtail or shield-tailed snakes, are a family of primitive, nonvenomous, burrowing snakes endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The name is derived from the Greek words ura ("tail") and pelte ("shield"), indicating the presence of the large keratinous shield at the tip of the tail. Seven or eight genera are recognized, depending on whether Teretrurus rhodogaster is treated in its own genus or as part of Brachyophidium. The family comprises over 50 species. These snakes are not well known in terms of their diversity, biology, and natural history.
Rhinophis oxyrhynchus, commonly known as Schneider's earth snake, is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis travancoricus, commonly known as the Travancore shieldtail or Tamil Nadu earth snake, is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to India.
Smith's earth snake, also known commonly as the violet shieldtail, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to India.
Uropeltis melanogaster, or Gray's earth snake, is a species of small snake in the family Uropeltidae, endemic to Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis is a genus of nonvenomous shield tail snakes found in Sri Lanka and South India. Currently, 19 species are recognized in this genus. Of the 19 species, 15 are endemic to Sri Lanka, while 4 are endemic to South India.
Rhinophis saffragamus, the large shieldtail snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae, which is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Rhinophis blythii, or Blyth's earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the rain forests and grasslands of Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis dorsimaculatus, commonly known as the polka-dot earth snake, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. It is endemic to the scrub jungles of Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis drummondhayi, commonly known as Drummond-Hay's earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the forests, grasslands, and agricultural habitats of Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis homolepis, commonly known as Trevelyan's earth snake, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. It is endemic to the rain forests and grasslands of Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis philippinus, or Peter's earth snake, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis punctatus, or Müller's earth snake, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. It is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis tricolorata is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis lineatus, or striped earth snake or striped rhinophis, is a recently described fossorial species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka and only known from its type locality, Harasbedda near Ragala, Central Province.
Rhinophis erangaviraji, or Eranga Viraj's shieldtail, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka and discovered from Rakwana area of Matara District.
Rhinophis roshanpererai is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species was first described from three specimens taken from Badulla District. The species lack pale stripes and possess three to four prominent spines with a small shield-tail.
Rhinophis goweri, also known as Gower's shieldtail snake, is a recently described, little-known species of snake of the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu in South India.
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