Indian earth snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uropeltis pulneyensis |
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| Palni shieldtail | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Uropeltis
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| Species: |
pulneyensis
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The Palni shieldtail (scientific name: Uropeltis pulneyensis) is a type of snake. It's also called the Indian earth snake. This snake belongs to a group of snakes called Uropeltidae. You can only find the Palni shieldtail in the Western Ghats mountains of India. This means it is endemic to that area.
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What Does the Palni Shieldtail Look Like?
The Palni shieldtail is a small snake. Adult snakes can grow up to about 38 centimeters (15 inches) long.
This snake has a rounded snout, which is the front part of its head. Its eyes are small. The scales around its neck are usually 19 in number. Around its body, it has 17 rows of scales.
The tail of the Palni shieldtail is a bit flat on the sides. It ends in a small, sharp keel, which is like a ridge. This keel often has two points. The scales on its tail are smooth.
The snake is usually a plain earthy brown color. It has a bright yellow stripe on each side of its body, starting from its mouth area. This stripe is about 1 to 1.5 inches long. You might also see a few tiny yellow spots on its back. Its belly has wide, bright yellow bands. These yellow bands can be different in size and shape. There are also yellow marks near its tail and vent (where waste leaves the body).
Where Does the Palni Shieldtail Live?
The Palni shieldtail lives in the southern part of the Western Ghats mountains. This area is in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India.
You can find these snakes in places like the Palni Hills, the High Wavy Mountains, and the Travancore hills. They live at high elevations, usually between 1,500 to 2,100 meters (5,000 to 7,000 feet) above sea level.
Where It Lives (Habitat)
The Palni shieldtail prefers to live in forest areas. However, people have also found these snakes in tea plantations and gardens.
How It Behaves
The Palni shieldtail spends its time on the ground. It is also a fossorial animal, which means it likes to burrow and live underground.
How It Reproduces (Reproduction)
The Palni shieldtail is ovoviviparous. This means that the mother snake keeps the eggs inside her body until they hatch. The young snakes then hatch inside her and are born live.
