Why in news Researchers have discovered a new species of a shield-tail snake in the Meghamalai-Munnar landscape of the Western Ghats. Uro...
Why in news
Researchers have discovered a new species of a shield-tail snake in the Meghamalai-Munnar landscape of the Western Ghats.
Uropeltis caudomaculata
Uropeltis caudomaculata, named in reference to the yellow spot that it has on each side of the base of its tail, rather than a stripe as occurs in many similar species, including its closest known relative, Uropeltis pulneyensis
The new species is distinguished primarily by its increased number of ventral scales
Its exclusive distribution along the eastern escarpment of the Western Ghats from Meghamalai to approximately 15 km east of Munnar, rather than the Palani Hills (where Uropeltis pulneyensis is seen)
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