Distributed range & status
Some believe that it is an endemic species to India and a sub species named P.madurensis ruhunae does not excist. But some believe such species was reported from Galle in Sri Lanka and specimens are found in the Natural History Museum, London.
Scales
rostral |
1 |
frontal |
1 (total length of frontal and nasals) |
supraoculars |
Shorter than pre-oculars |
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Not divided |
internasals |
|
loreals |
|
preoculars |
1 |
postoculars |
1 |
temporals |
1 |
Supralabials |
4 (length of the 4th is as twice as the 3rd and the 3rd touch the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
First two scales are joined from the back |
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
166 (Last scale is triangular and larger than the others) |
anal |
|
subcaudals |
10 divided |
The mid body has 15 scale rows and are not overlapped.
Characteristics
The body is very short, & cylindrical. The snout is rounded & laterally wedge shaped. It lacks a distinct neck. Small dorsoventrally flattened head is present. There are subsquamous glands on the head has stripes. The pupil of the eye is circular and clear. The nostrils are at the lateral positions. The tail is dorsoventrally flattened with a terminal spine at the tip. Tail shield is not very clear. The tip of the tail bears a scute & two ridges at each side. It’s also laterally flatterned.
Colour
Dorsally brown in colour and ventrally it becomes lighter. Ventral pre-body scales, 3 rows of coastals, postoculars and freoculars have a white spot on each scale. Pupil of the eye is brown. Each lateral side of the tail bear a line of white spots.
Venom
These snakes are not venomous.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
Data not found.
Breeding
Species found in India produce 4-5 offspring. Data not found of the sub species found in Sri Lanka.
Growth
The specimen was the length of 348mm as reported.
Food
Data not found.
Identification
Data not found.
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