Rhinophis saffragamus
| Rhinophis saffragamus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Uropeltidae |
| Genus: | Rhinophis |
| Species: | R. saffragamus
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhinophis saffragamus (Kelaart, 1853)
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| Synonyms | |
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Rhinophis saffragamus, the large shieldtail snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae, which is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Appearance and description
[edit]Thanks to similarities in reported phenotypes of snakes studied within the same region, a set of appearances for Rhinophis saffragamus can be concluded. These are named "grandis" and "pardalis", derived from the species synonymous names Uropeltis grandis (Kelaart, 1853) and Uropeltis pardalis (Kelaart, 1853).[2]
There is no easily available and complete data that definitively ties specific features to these types, however, generally, "grandis"-type specimens are larger than "pardalis"-type specimens. Recorded lengths of "grandis" specimens vary from ~300mm up to 510mm, while "pardalis" specimens varied from 148mm to 230mm. "Grandis" specimens are reported to be dark brown dorsally with darker spots on individual scales and a pale yellow venter. Contrarily, "pardalis" specimens are blackish-brown dorsally with scattered whiteish spots and a yellowish-white venter with scattered brown spots.[2]
Diet
[edit]The diet of shield-tail snakes in general consists mostly of earthworms. They may also consume termites, earwigs, and caterpillars, however, 80-90% of their stomach contents consists of earthworms. The distribution of shield-tail snakes in India is also tied to the presence or lack of earthworms.[3]
Geographic range
[edit]It is found in Sri Lanka in central and southern Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. Vertical range is from near sea level to 900 m elevation.
The type locality given is "Philippinschen Inseln": in error, according to M.A. Smith (1943).[1]
Taxonomy
[edit]It is also mentioned in the synonymy of Ramphotyphlops, a genus of blind snakes, but then as a name proposed by Fitzinger in 1843. However, at the time this name was already preoccupied by Schlegel's Pseudo-typhlops (1839).[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b Pyron, Robert Alexander; Somaweera, Ruchira (2019-02-26). "Further notes on the Sri Lankan uropeltid snakes Rhinophis saffragamus (Kelaart, 1853) and Uropeltis ruhunae Deraniyagala, 1954". Zootaxa. 4560 (3): 592–600. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4560.3.13. ISSN 1175-5334.
- ^ Shanker, K. (1996, August). Secrets of the Shieldtails. Nature Watch. https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/001/08/0064-0070
External links
[edit]- Rhinophis saffragamus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 30 August 2007.
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