Plectrurus is a genus of nonvenomous shield tail snakesendemic 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.
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]
Southern India in Coonoor, the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
In October 2020, two specimens were found by 10-year-old Dhruv Gowda. There had not been a recorded sighting of this snake in 140 years. This snake was last claimed to have been seen at the Chubra Hills in Wayanad, Kerala in 1880. There have been no recorded sightings since the 1880 sighting at the Chubra Hills.
^ abcdMcDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^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 linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plectrurus.
Plectrurus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 September 2007.
December 18, 2023
plectrurus, genus, nonvenomous, shield, tail, snakes, endemic, western, ghats, south, india, currently, four, species, recognized, they, inhabit, high, elevation, montane, shola, forests, usually, found, under, fallen, logs, rocks, some, species, rare, while, . 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 PlectrurusPerrotet s shieldtail Plectrurus perrotetiiScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily UropeltidaeGenus PlectrurusA H A Dumeril 1851SynonymsPlectrurus A H A Dumeril In A M C Dumeril amp A H A Dumeril 1851 Maudia Gray 1858 Plectrurus Boulenger 1890 Pseudoplectrurus Boulenger 1890 Plectrurus Mahendra 1984 1 Common names burrowing snakes 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Species 3 References 4 External linksDescription editSmall 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 editSpecies 3 Taxon author 3 Common name 2 Geographic range 1 Plectrurus aureus Beddome 1880 golden shield tail snake Southern India in Coonoor the Nilgiris Tamil NaduIn October 2020 two specimens were found by 10 year old Dhruv Gowda There had not been a recorded sighting of this snake in 140 years This snake was last claimed to have been seen at the Chubra Hills in Wayanad Kerala in 1880 There have been no recorded sightings since the 1880 sighting at the Chubra Hills Plectrurus guentheri Beddome 1863 Gunther s shield tail snake Southern India in the Western Ghats Sispara Ghat on the west side of the Nilgiri HillsPlectrurus perrotetiiT A H A Dumeril 1851 Perrotet s shield tail snake Southern India in the Western Ghats the Nilgiri Hills where it is a common species Not including the nominate subspeciesT Type species 1 References edit a b c d McDiarmid RW Campbell JA Toure 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 The Reptile Database www reptile database org a b c 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 Uropeltidae Trustees of the British Museum Natural History London pp 160 161 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plectrurus Plectrurus at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 1 September 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plectrurus amp oldid 1178497932, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
