Aspidura trachyprocta

Common rough-sided snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Sauropsida
Subclass:	Diapsida
Infraclass:	Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder:	Lepidosauria
Order:	Squamata
Infraorder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Aspidura
Species:	A. trachyprocta
Binomial name
	Aspidura trachyprocta; Cope,1860

Aspidura trachyprocta, the common rough-sided snake, known as දලව මැඩිල්ලා (dalawa medilla) in Sinhala, is a colubrid species endemic to Sri Lanka.

Destribution

A commonly encountered small burrowing snake from midhills to montane limits of central Sri Lanka. Localities recorded are Gammaduwa, Monaragala, Labukele, Nuwara Eliya, Harasbedda, Eskdale, Central Kandy, Pundaluoya, Longton Estate, Diyagama Estate, Nanu Oya, Sita Eliya, Ambewela, Pattipola, Hakgala, Horton Plains National Park, Namunukula, Kandy, Radella, Ramboda, and Diyatalawa at elevations of 750-2100m.

Description

Head indistinct from neck, body is cylindrical. Dorsum range from blackish-brown to light reddish-brown, with lateral stripes and 2-3 rows of dark dorsal spots. Venter varying from being heavily blotched with black to light yellow with a red tint and just blotched on midline.

Scalation

Midbody scale rows 15. Pre-oculars present. 2 Post-oculars contact with parietal. Ventrals 128-151. Subcaudals 11-26.

Ecology

Found in piles of humus, leaf litter and rotten timber, within agricultural lands.

Reproduction

4-12 eggs at a time, measuring 16 × 25mm.

References