From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Uropeltidae (shieldtail snakes) is a family of small burrowing snakes containing 8 genera and 47 species, classified in the Henophidia superfamily. The family name is derived from the Greek words ura ("tail") and pelte ("shield"), indicating the presence of a large keratinous shield at the tip of their tail. They are found only in the southern part of India and Ceylon. The cylindrical body is covered with smooth scales which are larger on the ventral than on the dorsal surface. With the exception of Platyplectrurus the eye is covered with an ocular scale. In most species the short tail ends with a large shield. Teeth are present in both the upper and lower jaws. They feed mostly on invertebrates, particularly earth worms. The snakes are ovoviviparous.
[edit] Genera within Uropeltidae
- Mountain Borrowing Snake, Brachyophidium (Wall, 1921)
- Black Earth Snake, Melanophidium, (Gunther, 1864)
- Thorntail Snake, Platyplectrurus, (Gunther, 1868)
- Shieldtail Snake, Plectrurus (Dumeril, 1851)
- Large Shieldtail Snake, Pseudotyphlops (Schlegel, 1839)
- Rhinoceros Earth Snake, Rhinophis (Hemprich, 1820)
- Purple-red Earth Snake, Teretrurus (Beddome, 1887)
- Indian Earth Snake, Uropeltis (Cuvier, 1829)
[edit] Genera formerly assigned to Uropeltidae
[edit] External links
