Melanophidium punctatum BEDDOME, 1871
Find more photos by Google images search:
Higher Taxa | Uropeltidae, Henophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Beddome's Black Earth Snake |
Synonym | Melanophidium punctatum BEDDOME 1871: 401 Melanophidium punctatum — BEDDOME 1886: 31 Melanophidium punctatum — BOULENGER 1893: 164 Melanophidium punctatum — SMITH 1943: 66 Melanophidium punctatum — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 130 Melanophidium punctatum — DAS 2003 Melanophidium punctatum — WALLACH et al. 2014: 436 |
Distribution | S India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu) Type locality: "Travancore, [...] under a stone in the Muti-Kuli Vayal, a little valley on the Asamboo range (4,500 feet elevation)" |
Reproduction | ovovivparous |
Types | Lectotype: BMNH 72.1.2.6 (= BMNH 1946.1.4.37), designated by Gower et al. 2016. Syntypes: BMNH 72.1.2.6 (= 1946.1.4.37), 74.4.29.121 (= 1946.1.15.48), 74.4.29.122 (= 1946.1.15.49); M. H. N. P. No. 95.116. |
Diagnosis | Description: Snout obtuse; rostral smalI; the portion visible from above equal to or less than half the distance between it and the frontal; frontal variable in size, longer than broad, the length of the suture between it and the supraocular 3 or 4 times in the length of the frontal; eye one-third the length of the ocular shield. V. 180-198, nearly twice as broad as the adjacent scales; C. 11-18. Tail compressed; caudal scales smooth; terminal scute mostly on the upper surface of the tail, with two parallel ridgds above forming two (sometimes four) points at the tip. In the young the scute is simply pointed and without ridges (Smith 1943: 66). Coloration: Iridescent black above; ventrals and outer two or three scale-rows white with black centres (Smith 1943: 66). |
Comment | |
References |
|
External links |