Uropeltidae

Taxobox
name = Uropeltidae


image_caption = Ceylon earth snake, "Uropeltis ceylanica"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
infraordo = Alethinophidia
familia = Uropeltidae
familia_authority = Müller, 1832
synonyms = * Uropeltana - Müller, 1832
* Uropeltacea - Müller, 1832
* Rhinophes - Fitzinger, 1843
* Uropeltidae - Gray, 1845
* Uropeltina - Gray, 1858
* Plecturina - Gray, 1858
* Rhinophidae - Cope, 1900
* Uropeltinae - McDowell, 1975McDiarmid 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).]

:"Common names: pipe snakes, shield-tailed snakes.ITIS|ID=209614|taxon=Uropeltidae|year=2007|date=17 August] "The Uropeltidae are a family of primitive burrowing snakes found in southern India and Sri Lanka. The name is derived from the Greek words "ura" ("tail") and "pelte" ("shield"), indicating the presence of the large keratinous shield at the tip of the tail. Currently, 8 genera are recognized comprising 47 species.

Description

These are small snakes, with adults growing to between 20 and 75 cm in length. They are adapted to a fossorial way of life, which is apparent in their anatomy. The skull is primitive and inflexible, with a short vertical quadrate bone and rigid jaws; the coronoid bone is still present in the lower jaw. The orbital bones are absent, the supratemporal is vestigial and the eyes are small and degenerate, not covered by a brille, but by large polygonal shields. However, the pelvis and hind limbs, the presence of which is also considered a primitive trait, have disappeared in this family.Parker HW, Grandison AGC. 1977. Snakes -- a natural history. Second Edition. British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. 108 pp. 16 plates. LCCCN 76-54625. ISBN 0-8014-1095-9 (cloth), ISBN 0-8014-9164-9 (paper).]

The tail is characteristic, ending in either A) an enlarged rigid scale with two points, or more often an upper surface with a subcircular area covered with thickened spiny scales, or B) a much enlarged spiny plate. The ventral scales are much reduced in size. The body is cylindrical and covered with smooth scales.

Geographic range

Found in southern India and Sri Lanka. In India, their distribution is mainly along the hills of Western Ghats, and only one species, Elliot's shieldtail, "Uropeltis ellioti", has been reported from other areas such as Eastern Ghats and hills of Central India. In Sri Lanka, they occur in areas whose climatic conditions are similar to that of Western Ghats, like the south western part of Sri Lanka.

Feeding

The diet consists mostly of invertebrates, particularly earth worms, although few studies have verified this.

Reproduction

All members of this family lay eggs (ovoviviparous).

Genera

^T) Type genus.

ee also

* List of uropeltid species and subspecies
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* List of snakes, overview of all snake families and genera.

References

External links

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