Uropeltis rubrolineata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uropeltis rubrolineata |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Uropeltis
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| Species: |
rubrolineata
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| Synonyms | |
- Common names: red-lined earth snake, red-lined shieldtail, Travancore uropeltis.
Uropeltis rubrolineata is a type of snake often called the red-lined earth snake or red-lined shieldtail. It is a non-venomous snake, meaning its bite is not harmful. This snake belongs to a group of snakes called shieldtails. You can only find this special snake in southern India. There are no different types or subspecies of this snake known.
Contents
Where the Red-Lined Earth Snake Lives
The Uropeltis rubrolineata snake lives in southern India. It is found in a mountain range called the Western Ghats. You can also find it in the Anaimalai Hills and Travancore Hills. These areas are all south of the Palghat Gap.
What Kind of Places It Calls Home
This snake prefers to live in natural forest areas. It can be found at heights between 400 and 1,500 meters (about 1,300 to 4,900 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, it is also seen in coconut farms.
What the Red-Lined Earth Snake Looks Like
The Uropeltis rubrolineata snake is usually a dark blackish-brown color. This color is on both its back and its belly. It has a bright red stripe along each side of its body. This stripe is usually about 2½ scales wide. It starts near the snake's mouth, on its upper and lower lips.
Size of the Snake
Adult red-lined earth snakes can grow up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) long.
Snake's Scales and Body
The scales on the snake's back are smooth. They are arranged in 17 rows around the middle of its body. Near its head, there are 19 rows of scales. The scales on its belly, called ventral scales, number between 165 and 172. The scales under its tail, called subcaudal scales, are usually 6 to 8 in number.
The snake's snout, or nose, is a bit rounded at the tip. The part of its nose scale you can see from above is about as long as the distance to its forehead scale. The scales on its nose touch each other behind the main nose scale. The scale on its forehead is about as long as it is wide. The snake's eye is small. Its size is a little less than half the length of the scale around its eye. The snake's body is quite thin. Its width goes into its total length about 30 to 33 times. The belly scales are twice as wide as the scales next to them. The end of the snake's tail is flat on top and cut off at an angle. The scales on the top of its tail have strong ridges. The very last scale on the tail has a ridge across it but no sharp points.
How the Red-Lined Earth Snake Behaves
The Uropeltis rubrolineata snake lives on the ground. It is also fossorial, which means it spends a lot of its time burrowing and living underground.
