Aspidura ravanai, commonly known as Ravana's rough-sided snake is a species of colubrid snake endemic to Sri Lanka.[2]

Aspidura ravanai
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Aspidura
Species:
A. ravanai
Binomial name
Aspidura ravanai
Wickramasinghe, Vidanapathirana, Kandambi, Pyron & Wickramasinghe, 2017

Taxonomy

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The specific name, ravanai, is in honor of the Sri Lankan mythological King Ravana.

Distribution and habitat

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A. ravanai is known only from the western slopes Sri Pada sanctuary in the central highlands of Sri Lanka.[3]

Description

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A. ravanai is a small snake similar to its sister lineage A. trachyprocta. The dorsum is dark black in color. A yellowish line runs through the body in venter region.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Wickramasinghe, L.J.M. (2021). "Aspidura ravanai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T145974011A145974061. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T145974011A145974061.en.
  2. ^ "A new species of Aspidura". mapress.com. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Aspidura ravanai, A New Species of Aspidura Wagler, 1830 (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Sri Pada Sanctuary (Peak Wilderness), Sri Lanka". novataxa. Retrieved 1 November 2017.

Further reading

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  • Gans C, Fetcho JR. 1982. The Sri Lankan genus Aspidura (Serpentes, Reptilia, Colubridae). Annals of Carnegie Museum 51 (14): 271–316. (Aspidura deraniyagalae, new species).