Researchers have discovered new species of burrowing snake named Melanophidium Khairei or Khaire’s Black Shieldtail in Northwestern Ghats.
This new snake species was correctly identified after a gap of 144 years as it was earlier wrongly identified as identified as Melanophidium Punctatum or Pied-bellied Shieldtail.
Key Points
The snake belongs to family Uropeltidae, which comprises all species which are burrowers and live mostly underground.
It is burrowing snake of the genus melanophidium. It is found in evergreen forests and rarely above ground in southern Maharashtra, Goa and northern Karnataka.
Melanophidium Khairei has been named after Neelimkumar Khaire, the legendary founder of Pune based Katraj Snake Park and Indian Herpetological Society.
Current Affairs 5th March, 2016 Highlights of Union Budget 2016-17 Highlights of Railway Budget 2016
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