Melanophidium

Melanophidium
Iridescent shieldtail, M. bilineatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Uropeltidae
Genus:	Melanophidium Günther, 1864
Synonyms
Melanophidium - Günther, 1864[1]

Common names: (none).

Melanophidium is a genus of non-venomous shield tail snakes found in southern India. Currently, three species are recognized.^[2]

Geographic range

Found in southern India in the Western Ghats: in the Peermede Hills in Kerala and the Anamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu.^[1]

Species

Species[2]	Taxon author[2]	Common name	Geographic range[1]
M. bilineatum	Beddome, 1870	Two-lined black shieldtail	Southern India in the Western Ghats: in Peria and Tirhoot Peaks, west of Manantoddy.
M. punctatum	Beddome, 1871	Beddome's black shieldtail	Southern India in the Western Ghats: in Travancore (1200-1500 m elevation) and the Anamalai Hills, and in Telawadi, Goa Frontier.
M. wynaudenseT	(Beddome, 1863)	Indian black earth snake	Southern India in the Western Ghats: in Manantoddy District and Coorg, at 900-1500 m elevation.

*) Not including the nominate subspecies.
^T) Type species.^[1]

See also

• List of uropeltid species and subspecies
• Uropeltidae by common name
• Uropeltidae by taxonomic synonyms

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} 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).
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Melanophidium". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634400. Retrieved 1 September 2007. 

External links

• Melanophidium at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 September 2007.