Phipson's Shieldtail Uropeltis phipsonii is a species of snake found in the Western Ghats

Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...

. The species is named after H. M. Phipson, one of the founders of the Bombay Natural History Society

Bombay Natural History Society

The Bombay Natural History Society, founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants, and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Many...

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Description

Cylindrical bodied, smooth-scaled, Head narrower than the neck. tail very short appears to be cut in slant. A broad yellow stripe on each side of the tail.

Behaviour

Largely unknown, lives underground, a burrower. Active above ground after heavy rains. Eats earthworms. A docile snake that has many predators including birds and wild boar.

Distribution

Endemic to India, reported at several places around Maharastra including hills around Mumbai and Pune.