| Uropeltis beddomii | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Uropeltidae |
| Genus: | Uropeltis |
| Species: | U. beddomii |
| Binomial name | |
| Uropeltis beddomii (Günther, 1862) |
|
| Synonyms | |
Uropeltis beddomii, commonly known as Beddome's earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to India.
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The specific name or epithet, beddomii, is in honor of Richard Henry Beddome (1830–1911), British army officer and botanist.
It is found in southern India (Anaimalai Hills).
Type locality = "Anamallay Hills".
Dorsum brown. A yellow streak on each side of the neck. A yellow crossband at the base of the tail, but not on the sides of the tail. Ventrum brown mixed with yellow.
The longest specimen in the type series collected by Col. Beddome is a female 27.5 cm (10¾ inches) in total length.
Dorsal scales in 19 rows behind the head, in 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals 180-188; subcaudals 6-7 (females).
Snout acutely pointed, strongly projecting. Rostral strongly compressed, keeled above, portion visible from above two fifths the length of the shielded part of the head. Nasals in contact with each other behind the rostral. Frontal longer than broad. Eye very small, less than ½ the length of the ocular. Diameter of body 33 to 44 times in the total length. Ventrals less than twice as large as the contiguous dorsal scales. End of tail subtruncate, convex, or somewhat flattened dorsally, the scales with 3 to 5 strong keels. Terminal scute with a transverse ridge and two points.[2]