Smith's earth snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smith's earth snake |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Uropeltis
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| Species: |
grandis
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| Synonyms | |
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The Smith's earth snake (Uropeltis grandis) is a special kind of snake. It's also known as the violet shieldtail because of its color. This snake is not venomous, meaning it's not dangerous to humans. It belongs to a group of snakes called shieldtail snakes. You can only find this snake in India, which means it's endemic there.
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Where Smith's Earth Snake Lives
This snake, U. grandis, lives in the Anaimalai Hills. These hills are located in Kerala, a state in southern India.
Naming the Snake: Taxonomy
Scientists often change the names of animals as they learn more. The Smith's earth snake has had a few different names over time. It was once called Rhinophis grandis and Silybura grandis.
In 1966, a scientist named Carl Gans gave it a new name, Uropeltis smithi. He did this to honor an American snake expert, Hobart Muir Smith.
What Smith's Earth Snake Looks Like
Like all shieldtail snakes, the Smith's earth snake has a unique shape. It has a pointed head and a tail that looks flattened.
Color and Size
The top of the snake's body, called the dorsum, is a dark violet color. Its belly, or venter, is also dark violet. However, it has large yellow spots or stripes that go across it.
Adult Smith's earth snakes can grow to be about 48 cm (18+7⁄8 in) long. This measurement includes both its body and its tail.
Scales and Features
This snake has smooth dorsal scales (scales on its back). These scales are arranged in 19 rows around the middle of its body. The scales on its belly, called ventrals, are larger.
The snake's snout (nose area) is pointed. Its eyes are very small. The body of the snake is quite thin, about 30 to 40 times thinner than its total length. The tail can be round or slightly flattened from side to side. The scales on the tail have strong ridges. The very end of the tail has two small spines.
Snake Homes: Habitat
The Smith's earth snake prefers to live in moist forests. You can find them at high places, usually between 1,200–1,400 m (3,900–4,600 ft) above sea level.
Reproduction
The U. grandis snake is viviparous. This means that the mother snake gives birth to live young. She doesn't lay eggs like some other snakes.
