Aspidura deraniyagalae

Aspidura deraniyagalae

Deraniyagala's rough-sided snake, Sri lanka rough-sided snake

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SPECIES
Aspidura deraniyagalae

Aspidura deraniyagalae, commonly known as Deraniyagala's rough-sided snake, the Sri Lanka rough-sided snake, and කදු මැඩිල්ලා (kandu medilla ) in Sinhala, is a colubrid species endemic to Sri Lanka.

Animal name origin

The specific name, deraniyagalae, is in honor of Sri Lankan zoologist Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala.

Appearance

Aspidura deraniyagalae is a small snake. The head is indistinct from the neck, and the body is cylindrical in cross section. The dorsum is light beige to dark brown. The head is dark-pigmented. The venter is blackish-brown, with lighter mottling.

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Aspidura deraniyagalae has the following scalation. The dorsal scales are arranged in 17 rows at midbody. Preoculars are present, forming a part of the anterior border of the orbit of the eye. The 2 postoculars are in contact with the parietal. Ventrals 117–122. Subcaudals 13–26.

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Distribution

Geography

Aspidura deraniyagalae is known from the eastern slopes of the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Localities recorded are Namunukula, Kanawarella, Spring Valley, and Pindarawatta, at elevations of around 1,520 m (4,990 ft).

Mating Habits

Sexually mature females of A. deraniyagalae produce about 2 to 4 eggs at a time.

References

1. Aspidura deraniyagalae Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidura_deraniyagalae

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