Cylindrophis maculatus (Linne's Earth Snake) LINNE 1754


Cylindrophis maculatus on the defensive

Synonymy: Originally christened Anguis maculatus by Linne

Characteristics: A small and stout snake with a cylindrical body well adapted for a subterranean lifestyle. Its snout is blunt and has small nostrils and eyes. It has a thick and short neck and rounded belly. Its tail is stocky and closely resembles a head.

 

Behaviour: Subterranean and docile. When frightened it deploys an elaborate bluff by hiding its head amidst its coils and raising its tail. It then uses its tail to imitate the movements of a cobra. If this fails to deter its enemy it will then emit a foul odour from its anal glands. Often can be easily captured when above ground and makes no attempt to escape even when kept on a table.

Food: Uncertain possibly feeds on earthworms and other subterranean fauna. Other species of genus Cylindrophis are known to feed on eels and snakes often much larger than itself. However C.maculatus is not known to inhabit wetlands or aquatic habitats.

Breeding: Very little known. Viviparous and brood size is probably around 3

Growth: Neonates measure around 120mm at birth. Maturity is attained at around 250mm most possibly during the first or second year of life. Maximum length is around 60cm.

Venom: Non-Venomous

Identification: The eye is in contact with five shields, the Prefrontal, the Supraocular, on Postocular and the 3rd and 4th Supralabials. This snake has no preocular or loreal shields.

Lepidosis:

Top of C.maculatus head View of Side Chin View

Head Dorsal View

Head Lateral View

Head Ventral View

Cylindorphis maculatus (Head)

Abbreviations

Dentition:

Habitat: Subterranean living up to 30cm below ground. Frequently found in soft, moist soil, very sluggish above ground.

Distribution: Endemic to Sri Lanka

Fairly common in the wetzone of the island up to altitudes of over 600m.


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Maintained by Upeka Premaratne Created: 2000/09/23 Last Updated: 2000/10/15


References:

WALL, Frank: Snakes of Ceylon (1921)

UETZ, Peter: EMBL Reptile Database (2000)

Acknowledgements:

Picture from a herpetology website

Anatomical Diagrams from Snakes of Ceylon