Wildlifeof India
Uropeltis macrolepis
Shieldtails, Blind & Burrowing Snakes
Photo: Davidvraju · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Uropeltis macrolepis
Basic stats
Diet
Earthworms
Habitat
Forest, 10–1,350m; ground-dwelling and burrowing
Range
Maharashtra (Phansad, Mahabaleshwar, Koyna, Lonavla)
Size
Total length up to 29.5cm
The Bombay earth snake, also called the Bombay shieldtail or the large-scaled shieldtail, is a snake of the family Uropeltidae endemic to southern India, found in Maharashtra. The smooth back scales are in only 15 rows at midbody, and 17 behind the head, and the snout is rounded. Two subspecies are recognised (Wikipedia, general species account).
Its preferred habitat is forest at 10–1,350 m, and adults may reach 29.5 cm in total length. It lives on the ground and burrows, preying on earthworms. The type locality of one subspecies is Mahabaleshwar in Satara district.
Quick answers
- What does the Uropeltis macrolepis eat?
- Earthworms
- What habitat does the Uropeltis macrolepis live in?
- Forest, 10–1,350m; ground-dwelling and burrowing
- Where is the Uropeltis macrolepis found?
- Maharashtra (Phansad, Mahabaleshwar, Koyna, Lonavla)
- How big is the Uropeltis macrolepis?
- Total length up to 29.5cm