Common names: burrowing snakesThe Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
Plectrurus is a genus of nonvenomous shield tail snakes endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. Currently, three species are recognized. They inhabit high elevation montane Shola forests and are usually found under fallen logs and rocks. Some species are rare while some are quite common in their range.
Description Small snakes, they do not exceed 43 cm (17 in).
An ocular shield covers the eye. The eyes are small, diameter not more than half the length of the ocular shield. The tail is laterally compressed. The terminal scute also is laterally compressed, with two superposed points. The points are simple, bifid, or trifid.Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Uropeltidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. pp. 160-161.
Species SpeciesTaxon authorCommon nameGeographic rangePlectrurus aureusBeddome, 1880golden shield-tail snakeSouthern India in Coonoor, the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu In October 2020, two specimens were found by 10-year-old Dhruv Gowda. There had not been a recorded sighting of this snake in 140 years. This snake was last claimed to have been seen at the Chubra Hills in Wayanad, Kerala in 1880. There have been no recorded sightings since the 1880 sighting at the Chubra Hills.Plectrurus guentheriBeddome, 1863Günther's shield-tail snakeSouthern India in the Western Ghats: Sispara Ghat on the west side of the Nilgiri HillsPlectrurus perrotetiiTA.H.A. Duméril, 1851Perrotet's shield-tail snakeSouthern India in the Western Ghats: the Nilgiri Hills, where it is a common species ) Not including the nominate subspecies T) Type species
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