Uropeltidae
Bhupathy’s shieldtail
HarmlessUropeltis bhupathyi

The Bhupathy’s shieldtail (Uropeltis bhupathyi) is a non-venomous snake in the Uropeltidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Uropeltidae
About the Bhupathy’s shieldtail
Uropeltis bhupathyi, commonly known as the Bhupathy’s shieldtail, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Bhupathy’s shieldtail
- Is the Bhupathy’s shieldtail venomous?
- No. The Bhupathy’s shieldtail (Uropeltis bhupathyi) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Bhupathy’s shieldtail poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Bhupathy’s shieldtail is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Bhupathy’s shieldtail dangerous?
- The Bhupathy’s shieldtail is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Bhupathy’s shieldtail live?
- The Bhupathy’s shieldtail has verified records in 1 country, including India. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Uropeltidae snakes
Bombay Earth SnakeUropeltis macrolepis
Phipson's ShieldtailUropeltis phipsonii
Elliot's Earth SnakeUropeltis ellioti
Nilgiri UropeltisUropeltis ocellata
Kerala ShieldtailUropeltis ceylanica
Boulenger's Earth SnakeUropeltis myhendrae
Shevaroy Hills earth snakeUropeltis shorttii
Bicatenate UropeltisUropeltis bicatenata
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Uropeltidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Uropeltis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Uropeltis bhupathyi
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.