Plectrurus aureus

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Superfamilia: Booidea

Familia: Uropeltidae
Genus: Plectrurus
Species: Plectrurus aureus
Name

Plectrurus aureus Beddome, 1880
References
Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2022. Plectrurus aureus. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 14 May 2020.
Srinivasulu, B., Srinivasulu, C., Ganesan, S.R. & Vijayakumar, S.P. 2013. IUCN: Plectrurus aureus (Data Deficient). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T172639A1357260. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T172639A1357260.en

Vernacular names
English: Kerala Burrowing Snake

Plectrurus aureus, commonly known as the Kerala burrowing snake or Kerala shieldtail,[1] is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to India.

Geographic range

It is found in southwestern India in the Western Ghats.

Type locality: "Chambra mountain in Wynad, near Kalpatty - one under an old rotten log at 6,000 feet elevation, the other under a large stone at 4,500 feet, both in heavy evergreen forest".
Description

Dorsum gold-colored, the scales edged with violet; a few irregular narrow violet-black crossbars may be present. Ventrum brighter gold-colored, with violet-black crossbands or alternating spots.

Adults may attain a total length of 40 cm (15+3⁄4 in).

Ventrals 164–177; subcaudals 8–12.

Scalation very similar to Plectrurus guentheri, except the ventrals are two times as broad as the contiguous scales. Diameter of body 39 to 44 times in the total length.[2]
Footnotes

The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Uropeltidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. pp. 162-163, Plate X., Figures 3. & 3a.