| Uropeltidae | |
|---|---|
| Ceylon earth snake, Uropeltis ceylanica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Infraorder: | Alethinophidia |
| Family: | Uropeltidae J.P. Müller, 1832 |
| Synonyms | |
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The Uropeltidae are a family of primitive burrowing snakes endemic to southern 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. Currently, 8 genera are recognized comprising 47 species.[2] These snakes are nonvenomous.[3]
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These are small snakes, with adults growing to between 20 and 75 cm in length. They are adapted to a fossorial way of life, which is apparent in their anatomy. The skull is primitive and inflexible, with a short vertical quadrate bone and rigid jaws; the coronoid bone is still present in the lower jaw. The orbital bones are absent, the supratemporal is vestigial and the eyes are small and degenerate, not covered by a brille, but by large polygonal shields. However, the pelvis and hind limbs, the presence of which is also considered a primitive trait, have disappeared in this family.[4]
The tail is characteristic, ending in either A) an enlarged rigid scale with two points, or more often an upper surface with a subcircular area covered with thickened spiny scales, or B) a much enlarged spiny plate. The ventral scales are much reduced in size.[4] The body is cylindrical and covered with smooth scales.
Found in southern India and Sri Lanka.[1] In India, their distribution is mainly along the hills of Western Ghats, and only one species, Elliot's shieldtail, Uropeltis ellioti, has been reported from other areas such as Eastern Ghats and hills of Central India. In Sri Lanka, they occur in areas whose climatic conditions are similar to that of Western Ghats, like the south western part of Sri Lanka.
The diet consists mostly of invertebrates, particularly earth worms, although few studies have verified this.
All members of this family retain eggs that hatch within the body of the mother (ovoviviparous).[5]
| Genus[2] | Taxon author[2] | Species[2] | Common name | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brachyophidium | Wall, 1921 | 1 | Southern India in the Palni Hills. | |
| Melanophidium | Günther, 1864 | 3 | Southern India in the Peermade Hills in Kerala and the Anaimalai Hills in Tamil Nadu. | |
| Platyplectrurus | Günther, 1868 | 2 | Southern India and Sri Lanka. | |
| Plectrurus | A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 | 4 | Southern India. | |
| Pseudotyphlops | Schlegel, 1839 | 1 | Sri Lanka in central and southern Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. | |
| Rhinophis | Hemprich, 1820 | 12 | Southern India and Sri Lanka. | |
| Teretrurus | Beddome, 1886 | 1 | Southern India in Wayanad, Travancore, Nalumukku, Oothu, the Manimuthar Hills (in the Western Ghats of Tirunelveli) and Nyamakad (in the Western Ghats of the Kerala Munnar Hills). | |
| UropeltisT | Cuvier, 1829 | 23 | Southern India and Sri Lanka. |
T) Type genus.[1]
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