Wallophis brachyura, known commonly as the Indian smooth snake or suvaro saap, is a species of rare harmless snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to India.
| Wallophis | |
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_at_Amravati,_Maharashtra.jpg)
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| Indian smooth snake at Amravati, Maharashtra | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Wallophis Werner, 1929 |
| Species: | W. brachyura
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| Binomial name | |
| Wallophis brachyura (Günther, 1866)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Geographic range
editW. brachyura is found in isolated localities in the state of Maharashtra in western peninsular India.[3]
Habitat
editDescription
editThe following description is based on Malcolm Smith (1943):
Nostril large, between two nasals; internasals 0.3 to 0.5 as long as the prefrontals; frontal nearly as broad as long, in contact with a large preocular; loreal longer than high; 2 postoculars; temporals 2+2; 8 supralabials, 4th and 5th touching the eye; anterior genials larger than the posterior, the latter separated by two or three series of small scales. Scales in 23:23:19 rows; ventrals large, rounded; tail rather short. Ventrals 200–224; Caudals 46–53; Anals 1.
Hemipenis extending to the 13th caudal plate, not forked. The distal half is calyculate, the cups being large and with scalloped edges; the proximal half is spinose, two or three spines at the base being much larger than the others (bad specimen).
Olive-brown above, with indistinct light variegations on the anterior half of the body and head; lower parts whitish. Total length: males 515 mm (20.3 in), tail 75 mm (3.0 in); females 460 mm (18 in), tail 55 mm (2.2 in).
Range. Northern India. Poona district and Visapur, near Bombay; S.E. Berar.
A rare snake.
Diet
editThe diet of W. brachyura is unknown.[3]
Reproduction
editThe manner of reproduction of W. brachyura is unknown.[3]
References
edit- ^ Vyas, R.; Suraj, M. (2021). "Coronella brachyura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T172590A158461186. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T172590A158461186.en. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Wallophis brachyura ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b c d Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN 0-88359-056-5. (Coronella brachyura, p. 29).
Further reading
edit- Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Coronella brachyura, p. 309).
- Günther A (1866). "Fifth Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Third Series 18: 24-29 + Plates VI-VII. (Zamenis brachyurus, new species, p. 27 + Plate VI, figure A).
- Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptlia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Coronella brachyura, pp. 194–195, Figure 60).
External links
edit- Wallophis brachyura at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 December 2007.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20030908232013/http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Coronella_brachyura.jpg
- http://www.indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=465144
