Melanophidium bilineatum BEDDOME, 1870
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Higher Taxa | Uropeltidae, Henophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Two-lined Black Earth Snake |
Synonym | Melanophidium bilineatum BEDDOME 1870 Melanophidium bilineatum — BEDDOME 1886: 30 Melanophidium bilineatum — BOULENGER 1893: 164 Melanophidium bilineatum — SMITH 1943: 66 Melanophidium bilineatum — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 130 Melanophidium bilineatum — DAS 2003 Melanophidium bilineatum — WALLACH et al. 2014: 436 |
Distribution | India (Kerala) Type locality: „near the summit of the Peria peak in the Wynaad, elevation 5,000 feet, and also at a similar elevation on the Tirrhioot peak” [ = west of Manatoddy, fide SMITH 1943] |
Reproduction | ovovivparous |
Types | Lectotype: BMNH 72.1.2.5 (= BMNH 1946.1.15.75; Fig. 8) from Peria peak, Wynad. Paralectotype: MNHN-RA (18)95.111, designated by Gower et al. 2016. Syntypes: BMNH 72.1.2.5 (= 1946.1.15.75); M. H. N. P. No. 95. 111. |
Diagnosis | Description: Similar to punctatum, but the eye smaller, its diameter one-fourth the length of the ocular shield, and the ventrals a little broader, twice as broad as the adjaeent scales. V. 188- 200; C. 15-17. Tail as in the young of punctatum (Smith 1943: 66). Coloration: iridescent black above and below; the two colours separated by a broad, yellow stripe along scale-row 2 and the adjacent halves of rows 1 and 3; it may or may not have a series of small black dots (Smith 1943: 67). |
Comment | After GANS 1969, this species is known from the three types only. |
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