Uropeltis bicatenata ( Günther, 1864 )

Pyron, Robert Alexander, Ganesh, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan, Sayyed, Amit, Sharma, Vivek, Wallach, Van & Somaweera, Ruchira, 2016, A catalogue and systematic overview of the shield-tailed snakes (Serpentes: Uropeltidae), Zoosystema 38 (4), pp. 453-506 : 489

Uropeltis bicatenata ( Günther, 1864)

( Fig. 8C )

Silybura bicatenata Günther, 1864: 350 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: BMNH 1860.3 .19.1277 (= 1946.1.16.8).

TYPE LOCALITY. — The Deccan Plateau, central India. We revise this by subsequent restriction to the Pune hills, Maharashtra state, based on referred material of known origin, including BNHS S225, 3251, 3252, and 3265-66 from Bhimashankar and Fangul Gauhan ( Gower et al. 2008).

DISTRIBUTION. — Definitively known only from the Pune hills of India, including Bhimashankar and Fangul Gauhan ( Gower et al. 2008), and Kalsubai of Igatpuri-Nashik hills (VS & AS, pers. obs.) at elevations c. 700-1800 m.

DESCRIPTION

Maximum total length c. 260 mm, ventrals 130-141, subcaudals 8-9 (females) or 10-12 (males), dorsal scales in 17 rows at midbody. In accordance with Smith’s (1943) state II, the tail is sharply truncated dorsally at a c. 45° angle, with the enlarged dorsal scales bi- or tri-carinate. The snout is “Alternate Rounded”. Distinctive color-pattern, with a primarily brown dorsal and ventral coloration, with irregular yellow stripes or dots down either side of the dorsum ventrolaterally, giving the appearance of a chain-like pattern.

REMARKS

This species was resurrected from the synonymy of Uropeltis ceylanica Cuvier, 1829 by Gower et al. (2008), and some existing material referred to U. ceylanica may actually be part of this taxon. One of the more northerly ranging species of Uropeltis .

Figures

FIG. 8. — Some uropeltid species photographed in life: A, Rhinophis zigzag Gower & Maduwage, 2011; B, Teretrurus sanguineus (Beddome, 1867); C, Uropeltis bicatenata (Günther,1864); D, U. ceylanica Cuvier,1829; E, U.dindigalensis (Beddome,1877);F, U. ellioti (Gray,1858); G, U. liura (Günther,1875);H, U. macrolepis (Peters, 1861). Photos by RAP, RS, SRG, VS, S. Kehimkar, A. Mohan, and D. Raju.