Uropeltidae
Shevaroy Hills earth snake
HarmlessUropeltis shorttii
2 photographs of the Shevaroy Hills earth snake. (c) Bala Subramanian, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Bala Subramanian.
The Shevaroy Hills earth snake (Uropeltis shorttii) is a non-venomous snake in the Uropeltidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Uropeltidae
About the Shevaroy Hills earth snake
Uropeltis shorttii, also known commonly as the Shevaroy Hills earth snake and Shortt's shieldtail snake, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats of India. This species was first described as Silybura shorttii by British naturalist Richard Henry Beddome in 1863. It is found only in the Shevaroy Hills of Salem district in Tamil Nadu state in South India. For a long time, this species was misclassified into Uropeltis ceylanica, a snake endemic to the Western Ghats, till a recent taxonomic study proved it to be a distinct species with a very narrow geographic range. It is a burrowing snake, presumed to be nocturnal, feeding on soft-bodied worms. It becomes active during the rains. U. shorttii has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019, and is listed as "Critically Endangered" under criteria B1ab(iii).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Shevaroy Hills earth snake
- Is the Shevaroy Hills earth snake venomous?
- No. The Shevaroy Hills earth snake (Uropeltis shorttii) 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 Shevaroy Hills earth snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Shevaroy Hills earth snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Shevaroy Hills earth snake dangerous?
- The Shevaroy Hills earth snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Shevaroy Hills earth snake live?
- The Shevaroy Hills earth snake 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
Bicatenate UropeltisUropeltis bicatenata
Uropeltis jerdoniUropeltis jerdoni
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 shorttii
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.