| rosebelly worm-eating snake | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | incertae sedis |
| Genus: | Trachischium |
| Species: | T. guentheri |
| Binomial name | |
| Trachischium guentheri Boulenger, 1890 |
|
The rosebelly worm-eating snake (Trachischium guentheri) is a species of colubrid snake. The epithet, guentheri, honors Albert Günther (1830–1914), German-born zoologist at the British Museum.
It is found in India (Sikkim, West Bengal), Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
The rosebelly worm-eating snake does have a rose-colored belly when alive. Specimens preserved in alcohol are dark brown dorsally, with indistinct lighter and darker longitudinal streaks; and are yellowish ventrally, either uniform or scantily mottled with brown.
The dorsal scales are arranged in 13 rows and are smooth, except that the males have keeled dorsal scales in the anal/basicaudal region. The ventrals are 134-138; the anal plate is divided; and the subcaudals, which are also divided, number 34-39.
Adults may attain 28 cm (11 inches) in total length, with a tail 3.5 cm (1⅜ inches) long.[1]