Uropeltis macrolepis

Uropeltis macrolepis
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Uropeltidae
Genus:	Uropeltis
Species:	U. macrolepis
Binomial name
	Uropeltis macrolepis; (W. Peters, 1862)
Synonyms
	Silybura macrolepis; W. Peters, 1862; Uropeltis macrolepis; — M.A. Smith, 1943;

Last updated March 16, 2023

Uropeltis macrolepis, commonly known as the Bombay earth snake, the Bombay shieldtail, and the large-scaled shieldtail, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to southern India. There are two recognized subspecies.

Geographic range

Uropeltis macrolepis is found in Maharashtra (Phansad – near Supegaon, Mahabaleshwar, Koyna, Lonavla), India.^[3]

Type locality of Silybura macrolepis = "Ceylon?"

Type locality of Uropeltis macrolepis mableshwarensis = "Mahableshwar, Satara district, Bombay State", India.^[4]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of U. macrolepis is forest, at altitudes of 10–1,350 m (33–4,429 ft).^[1]

Description

Uropeltis macrolepis is black or dark purplish brown both dorsally and ventrally, with each scale lighter-edged. There is a yellow stripe on the lips and sides of the neck, followed by two to five large yellow spots, and a yellow stripe along each side of the tail.

Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 29.5 cm (11+1⁄2 in).

The smooth dorsal scales are in only 15 rows at midbody (in 17 rows behind the head). The ventrals number 128–140, and the subcaudals number 7–9.

Closeup of Uropeltis macrolepis Bombay-shieldtail-matheran-closeup.jpg — Closeup of Uropeltis macrolepis

The snout is rounded. The rostral is less than ¼ of the length of the shielded part of the head, the portion visible from above shorter than its distance from the frontal. The nasals are in contact with each other behind the rostral. The frontal is as long as or slightly longer than broad. The diameter of eye is more than ½ the length of the ocular shield. The diameter of body goes 24 to 29 times into the total length. The ventrals are twice as large as the contiguous scales. The end of the tail is obliquely truncate, flat dorsally, with strongly bicarinate scales. The terminal scale has a transverse ridge and two points.^[5]

Behavior

Uropeltis macrolepis is terrestrial and fossorial.^[1]

Diet

Uropeltis macrolepis preys upon earthworms.^[1]

Reproduction

Uropeltis macrolepis is ovoviviparous.^[2]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominate race.^[2]

Uropeltis macrolepis macrolepis (W. Peters, 1862)
Uropeltis macrolepis mahableshwarensis Chari, 1955

Related Research Articles

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References

1 2 3 4 Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B.; Giri, V.; Thakur, S.; Kulkarni, N.U. (2013). "Uropeltis macrolepis ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . IUCN. 2013: e.T172659A1361165. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T172659A1361165.en . Retrieved 10 January 2018.
1 2 3 Uropeltis macrolepis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 December 2007.
↑ Ashok Captain, personal comment.
↑ Chari, V.K. (1955).
↑ Boulenger, G.A. (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. (Silybura macrolepis, pp. 159–160).

External links

U. macrolepis image 1/5 at Uetz Lab. Accessed 13 December 2007.
U. macrolepis image 2/5 at Uetz Lab. Accessed 13 December 2007.
U. macrolepis image 3/5 at Uetz Lab. Accessed 13 December 2007.
U. macrolepis image 4/5 at Uetz Lab. Accessed 13 December 2007.
U. macrolepis image 5/5 at Uetz Lab. Accessed 13 December 2007.

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[IUCN-1] 1 2 3 4 Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B.; Giri, V.; Thakur, S.; Kulkarni, N.U. (2013). "Uropeltis macrolepis ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . IUCN. 2013: e.T172659A1361165. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T172659A1361165.en . Retrieved 10 January 2018.

[NRDB-2] 1 2 3 Uropeltis macrolepis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 December 2007.

[3] Ashok Captain, personal comment.

[4] Chari, V.K. (1955).

[5] Boulenger, G.A. (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. (Silybura macrolepis, pp. 159–160).

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