Wildlifeof India
Uropeltis shorttii
Shieldtails, Blind & Burrowing Snakes
Photo: (c) Bala Subramanian, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC-BY-SA (May be cropped or resized)
Uropeltis shorttii
Basic stats
Diet
Soft-bodied worms (presumed)
Habitat
Forest, 1,300–1,600m; does not persist in human-modified habitats
Range
Shevaroy Hills, Salem district, Tamil Nadu (only known site)
Size
Total length up to 30cm
The Shevaroy Hills earth snake, also called Shortt's shieldtail snake, is a small, dark bluish-black, non-venomous burrowing snake with distinct yellow crossbands, endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats of India. It is found only in the Shevaroy Hills of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. It may attain 30 cm in total length (Wikipedia, general species account).
Its preferred habitat is forest at 1,300–1,600 m, and it cannot persist in human-modified habitats. It is a burrowing snake, presumed to be nocturnal and to feed on soft-bodied worms, and it becomes active during the rains.
Quick answers
- What does the Uropeltis shorttii eat?
- Soft-bodied worms (presumed)
- What habitat does the Uropeltis shorttii live in?
- Forest, 1,300–1,600m; does not persist in human-modified habitats
- Where is the Uropeltis shorttii found?
- Shevaroy Hills, Salem district, Tamil Nadu (only known site)
- How big is the Uropeltis shorttii?
- Total length up to 30cm