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Type: Article
Published: 2020-07-09
Page range: 65–80
Abstract views: 161
PDF downloaded: 3

A new species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Reptilia: Uropeltidae), from cloud forest of the Knuckles massif of Sri Lanka

Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka, 31/5 Alwis Town, Hendala, Wattala, Sri Lanka
Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka, 31/5 Alwis Town, Hendala, Wattala, Sri Lanka
Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka, 31/5 Alwis Town, Hendala, Wattala, Sri Lanka Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
Reptilia Dumbara endemic Rhinophis phillipsi shieldtail taxonomy Western Ghats-Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot

Abstract

A new species of uropeltid snake is described from the Knuckles Conservation Forest, Matale District, Sri Lanka. Rhinophis gunasekarai sp. nov. is superficially most similar to Rhinophis phillipsi in having yellow lines on the dorsum, blotches on the lateral body, and a relatively small tail shield, but it differs from that species in having substantially fewer ventrals, and a unique number and disposition of the dorsal yellow lines and lateral blotches. The new description brings the uropeltid fauna of Sri Lanka to 17 currently recognized species, all Rhinophis.

 

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