Plectrurus perottetii | |
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Nilgiri burrowing snake or Perrotet's shield-tail snake | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Uropeltidae |
Genus: | Plectrurus |
Species: | P. perrotetii
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Binomial name | |
Plectrurus perrotetii | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Plectrurus perrotetii, commonly known as the Nilgiri burrowing snake or Perrotet's shield-tail snake, [1] is a species of harmless snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to India.
The specific name, perrotetii or perroteti, is in honour of French naturalist George Samuel Perrottet (1793–1867). [2]
P. perrotetii is found in the Western Ghats and hills of southern India.
P. perrotetii is a small snake, growing to a maximum of 44 cm (17+1⁄4 in) in total length (including tail). The head is pointed, and the tail is blunt. It has smooth, glossy scales and is brown in colour.
Like the common worm snake ( Ramphotyphlops braminus), Plectrurus perrotetii is also often mistaken for earthworms, upon which it feeds. It is considered an endangered species, and little else is known about this snake.