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

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5252/z2016n4a2
publication LSID	urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BFFD82EF-50C9-42BF-8493-DF57591EA4FF
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A82A47-8339-FFA1-FC6C-FC21FC697C9E
treatment provided by	Felipe (2021-03-03 17:02:42, last updated by Plazi 2023-11-01 22:57:55)
scientific name	Uropeltis bicatenata ( Günther, 1864 )
status

Treatment

Uropeltis bicatenata ( Günther, 1864)

( Fig. 8C View FIG )

Silybura bicatenata Günther, 1864: 350 View in CoL .

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 .

References

CUVIER G. 1829. - Le Regne animal distribue d'apres son organisation, pour servir de base a l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction a l'anatomie comparee. Tome II. Nouvelle edition, revue et augmentee. Deterville, Paris, 406 p.

GOWER D. J., CAPTAIN A. & THAKUR S. S. 2008. - On the taxonomic status of Uropeltis bicatenata (Gunther) (Reptilia: Serpentes: Uropeltidae). Hamadryad 33: 64 - 82.

GUNTHER A. C. L. G. 1864. - The reptiles of British India. Ray Society, London, 452 p.

SMITH M. A. 1943. - The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-Region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. 3 (Serpentes). Taylor & Francis, London, 583 p.

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.