Uropeltis bhupathyi explained

Uropeltis bhupathyi, commonly known as the Bhupathy’s shieldtail,[1] [2] is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India.[3]

Etymology

U. bhupathyi is named in honour of Indian herpetologist and biologist Subramanian Bhupathy.[4] [5]

Distribution

The species, although native to the Western Ghats in India, has so far only been traced in the Anaikatti hills in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.[6] [7] [8] [9]

Description

U. bhupathyi, a non-venomous burrowing species, usually feeds on earthworms.[10] It possesses over 200 ventral scales and 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody.[11] [12] The tail is short and obliquely truncate. It has keeled scales. It is dark brown in colour, with yellow stripes on either side of neck and tail. It has a metallic appearance. The species has a moderately developed tail shield. The terminal scute is wide and surrounded by 8-10 scales.[13]

It grows to about 40 cm in total length.[14]

The species suffers the risk of habitat loss. It is also affected by road traffic and pesticides.[15] It also possibly suffers from a condition rendering its head deformed, reminiscent of the snake fungal disease prevalent in North America and Europe.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ZooBank.org . 2022-12-25 . zoobank.org . en-us.
  2. Web site: ITIS - Report: Uropeltis bhupathyi . 2022-12-25 . www.itis.gov.
  3. Web site: Uropeltis bhupathyi Jins, Sampaio & Gower, 2018 Species . 2022-12-25 . India Biodiversity Portal . en.
  4. Web site: New species of shieldtail snake discovered in Western Ghats . 2022-12-25 . www.downtoearth.org.in . en.
  5. News: Perinchery . Aathira . 2018-05-03 . New snake found in Western Ghats . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-12-25 . 0971-751X.
  6. Web site: Uropeltis bhupathyi . 2022-12-25 . The Reptile Database.
  7. Web site: Zootaxa .
  8. Web site: ResearchGate .
  9. Web site: Uropeltis bhupathyi Jins, Sampaio & Gower, 2018 Species . 2022-12-25 . India Biodiversity Portal . en.
  10. News: Perinchery . Aathira . 2018-05-03 . New snake found in Western Ghats . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-12-25 . 0971-751X.
  11. Web site: Pskhun . 2018-05-01 . Species New to Science: [Herpetology • 2018] Uropeltis bhupathyi • A New Species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the Anaikatty Hills of the Western Ghats of India ]. 2022-12-25 . Species New to Science.
  12. Web site: Uropeltis bhupathyi . 2022-12-25 . The Reptile Database.
  13. Web site: Uropeltis bhupathyi Jins, Sampaio & Gower, 2018 Species . 2022-12-25 . India Biodiversity Portal . en.
  14. News: Perinchery . Aathira . 2018-05-03 . New snake found in Western Ghats . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-12-25 . 0971-751X.
  15. Web site: 2018-07-05 . Scientists describe new species of shieldtail snakes found in Anaikatti hills . 2022-12-25 . Mongabay-India . en-US.
  16. Web site: New species of shieldtail snake discovered in Western Ghats . 2022-12-25 . www.downtoearth.org.in . en.

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