| Uropeltis broughami | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Uropeltidae |
| Genus: | Uropeltis |
| Species: | U. broughami |
| Binomial name | |
| Uropeltis broughami (Beddome, 1878) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Uropeltis broughami, commonly known as Brougham's earth snake [1] [2] or the Sirumalai shieldtail, [3] is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India. [1] [2]
The specific name, broughami, is in honor of British botanist Henry Brougham Guppy. [4]
U. broughami is found in the Sirumalai Hills and Palni Hills in Tamil Nadu, southern India. [1] [2]
Type locality of Silybura broughami = "Sirumallay hills (Madura district), 5500 feet elevation".Type locality of Silybura levingii = "Lower Pulney hills (Madura district), 4000 feet elevation". [2]
The dorsum of U. broughami is brown, with transverse series of small yellow black-edged ocelli. The sides have a series of large yellow spots. The ventrals are dark brown.
It grows to 41 cm (16+1⁄8 in) in total length (including tail).
The dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 203–230, and the subcaudals numbersubcaudals 7-10.
The snout is acutely pointed. The rostral is laterally compressed, obtusely keeled above, two fifths the length of the shielded part of the head, the portion visible from above much longer than its distance from the frontal. The nasals are in contact with each other behind the rostral. The frontal is as long as broad, or slightly longer than broad. The eye is very small, not half the length of the ocular. The diameter of the body goes 34 to 40 times into the total length. The ventrals are not twice as broad as the contiguous dorsal scales. The tail is obliquely truncate, flat above, with strongly pluricarinate scales. The terminal scute is bicuspid. [5]
U. broughami is viviparous. [2]
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 and, depending on the source, Sri Lanka.
Uropeltis beddomii, commonly known as Beddome's earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to India.
Uropeltis ceylanica is a nonvenomous shield tail snake species endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. No subspecies are currently recognized; but the presence of several synonyms, many recently resurrected, calls for further taxonomic studies of this species complex. They are burrowing snakes with pointy heads equipped to penetrate the soil. They have a thick tail which looks as if its cut at an angle. In Kerala its called "iru thala moori". Which means two headed organism as the tail end look like another head. It also has a pointy retractable needle on the tail end to quickly attack any predators and make an escape. They primarily eat earth worms.
Uropeltis dindigalensis, commonly known as the Sirumalai Hills earth snake or the Dindigul Uropeltis, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to Sirumalai and surrounding hill ranges of Southern Eastern Ghats, in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu state in South India.
Uropeltis ellioti, commonly known as Elliot's earth snake and Elliot's shieldtail, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to India.
Uropeltis liura, commonly known as Günther's earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to India.
Uropeltis macrolepis, commonly known as the Bombay earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to southern India.
Uropeltis macrorhyncha is a nonvenomous shield tail snake species endemic to India. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Uropeltis maculata is a nonvenomous shield tail snake species endemic to southern India. No subspecies are currently recognized. Its common name is spotted earth snake.
Uropeltis myhendrae, commonly known as Mahendragiri earth snake or the Myhendra Mountain Uropeltis, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to Western Ghats.
Uropeltis nitida is a species of nonvenomous shield tail snake. It is endemic to southern India. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Uropeltis ocellata is a non-venomous shield tail snake species found in southern India.
Uropeltis petersi, commonly known as the Peter's earth snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to India.
Uropeltis phipsonii, commonly known as Phipson's shieldtail, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to India.
Uropeltis pulneyensis, commonly known as the Palni shieldtail, is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to the Western Ghats of India.
Uropeltis rubrolineata is a nonvenomous shield tail snake species endemic to southern India. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Uropeltis rubromaculata is a nonvenomous shield tail snake species endemic to southern India. No subspecies are currently recognized.
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 woodmasoni, commonly known as Wood-Mason's earth snake or Woodmason's earth snake, is a species of 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.
