Plectrurus
Plectrurus is a genus of nonvenomous shield tail snakes endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.[1] Currently, four species are recognized.[3] They inhabit high elevation montane Shola forests and are usually found under fallen logs and rocks. Some species are rare while some are quite common in their range.
| Plectrurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Perrotet's shieldtail, Plectrurus perrotetii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Uropeltidae |
| Genus: | Plectrurus A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 |
| Synonyms | |
| |
- Common names: burrowing snakes[2]
Description
Small snakes, they do not exceed 43 cm (17 in).
An ocular shield covers the eye. The eyes are small, diameter not more than half the length of the ocular shield. The tail is laterally compressed. The terminal scute also is laterally compressed, with two superposed points. The points are simple, bifid, or trifid.[4]
Species
| Species[3] | Taxon author[3] | Common name[2] | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plectrurus aureus | Beddome, 1880 | Golden shield tail snake | Southern India in the Western Ghats: Chambra Hill, Malabar |
| Plectrurus guentheri | Beddome, 1863 | Günther's shield tail snake | Southern India in the Western Ghats: Sispara Ghat on the west side of the Nilgiri Hills |
| Plectrurus perrotetiiT | A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 | Perrotet's shield tail snake | Southern India in the Western Ghats: Nilgiri Hills,where it is a common species. |
*) Not including the nominate subspecies
T) Type species[1]
References
- 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).
- The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- "Plectrurus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
- Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Uropeltidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. pp. 160-161.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plectrurus. |
- Plectrurus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 September 2007.
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