Encyclopedia of Life · EOL (see source)
Melanophidium
Sign in to saveCommon name: Black shield-tail snakes Melanophidium is a genus of nonvenomous shield-tail snakes endemic to the Western Ghats of India. These species are identifiable by having a mental groove in their chin shields. Currently, four species are recognized, including one newly described species.
~2 min read
Encyclopedic overview
5 sectionsContents
- Natural history
- Geographic range
- Species
- References
- External links
Common name: Black shield-tail snakes Melanophidium is a genus of nonvenomous shield-tail snakes endemic to the Western Ghats of India. These species are identifiable by having a mental groove in their chin shields. Currently, four species are recognized, including one newly described species.
==Natural history== Their very smooth and glossy skin is said to be highly iridescent and is functional in warding off debris during burrowing. They are typically fossorial and nocturnal, becoming active during rainy nights.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Melanophidium” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.