Ornate Shieldtail Snake
Uropeltis ornata
A small, glossy burrowing snake from the Western Ghats of India with a distinctive hardened, shield-like tail tip.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.2-0.4 m (0.7-1.3 ft)
- Range
- Western Ghats, India
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Overview
The Ornate Shieldtail Snake is a small, fossorial species belonging to the shieldtail family, a group of burrowing snakes endemic to South Asia known for their unusual armored tail tips.
This species is entirely harmless to humans and, like other shieldtails, is rarely seen above ground, spending nearly its entire life burrowed in moist soil.
How to identify it
- Small, smooth-scaled, cylindrical body
- Glossy dark brown to purplish-black dorsal coloration, often with pale speckling or streaking
- Distinctive flattened, shield-like keratinized tail tip used to block burrows
- Small, blunt head with reduced eyes
- Adults typically 20-40 cm in length
Habitat & range
Endemic to the Western Ghats mountain range of southern India, inhabiting moist forest soil, plantations, and leaf litter at moderate to high elevations.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Fossorial and nocturnal, feeding mainly on earthworms and soft-bodied invertebrates found in soil. Its hardened tail shield is used to plug burrow entrances and may deter predators from pursuing it underground. It is live-bearing, producing small numbers of young.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ornate Shieldtail Snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous and harmless to humans.
What is the shield-like tail used for?
It is a hardened tail tip believed to help block burrow entrances and deter predators.
Where is the Ornate Shieldtail Snake found?
It is endemic to the Western Ghats mountain range of southern India.
What does the Ornate Shieldtail Snake eat?
It primarily feeds on earthworms and other soft-bodied soil invertebrates.
Ornate Shieldtail Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Ornate Shieldtail Snake.
