Wallophis

{{Short description|Species of snake}} {{speciesbox | image = Indian smooth snake (Coronella brachyura) at Amravati, Maharashtra.jpg | image_caption = Indian smooth snake at Amravati, Maharashtra | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Vyas, R. |author2=Suraj, M. |year=2021 |title=''Coronella brachyura'' |volume=2021 |article-number=e.T172590A158461186 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T172590A158461186.en |access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref> | genus = Wallophis | parent_authority = Werner, 1929 | species = brachyura | authority = (Günther, 1866) | range_map = Coronella brachyura distribution.png | synonyms = *''Zamenis brachyurus'' <br />{{small|Günther, 1866}} *''Coronella brachyura'' <br />{{small|— Boulenger, 1890}} | synonyms_ref = <ref>"''Wallophis brachyura'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref> }}

'''''Wallophis brachyura''''', known commonly as the '''Indian smooth snake''' or '''''suvaro saap''''', is a species of rare harmless snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to India.

==Geographic range== ''W. brachyura'' is found in isolated localities in the state of Maharashtra in western peninsular India.<ref name=Das2002/>

==Habitat== The preferred habitat of ''W. brachyura'' is dry plains.<ref name=Das2002/>

==Description== The following description is based on Malcolm Smith (1943):

Nostril large, between two nasals; internasals 0.3 to 0.5 as long as the prefrontals; frontal nearly as broad as long, in contact with a large preocular; loreal longer than high; 2 postoculars; temporals 2+2; 8 supralabials, 4th and 5th touching the eye; anterior genials larger than the posterior, the latter separated by two or three series of small scales. Scales in 23:23:19 rows; ventrals large, rounded; tail rather short. Ventrals 200–224; Caudals 46–53; Anals 1.

Hemipenis extending to the 13th caudal plate, not forked. The distal half is calyculate, the cups being large and with scalloped edges; the proximal half is spinose, two or three spines at the base being much larger than the others (bad specimen).

Olive-brown above, with indistinct light variegations on the anterior half of the body and head; lower parts whitish. Total length: males {{convert|515|mm|in|abbr=on}}, tail {{convert|75|mm|in|abbr=on}}; females {{convert|460|mm|in|abbr=on}}, tail {{convert|55|mm|in|abbr=on}}.

Range. Northern India. Poona district and Visapur, near Bombay; S.E. Berar.

A rare snake.

==Diet== The diet of ''W. brachyura'' is unknown.<ref name=Das2002>Das I (2002). ''A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India''. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. {{ISBN|0-88359-056-5}}. (''Coronella brachyura'', p. 29).</ref>

==Reproduction== The manner of reproduction of ''W. brachyura'' is unknown.<ref name=Das2002/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *Boulenger GA (1890). ''The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia.'' London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (''Coronella brachyura'', p. 309). *Günther A (1866). "Fifth Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". ''Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Third Series'' '''18''': 24-29 + Plates VI-VII. (''Zamenis brachyurus'', new species, p. 27 + Plate VI, figure A). *Smith MA (1943). ''The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptlia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes.'' London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (''Coronella brachyura'', pp. 194–195, Figure 60).

==External links== *{{NRDB species|genus=Wallophis|species=brachyura|date=12 December|year=2007}} *https://web.archive.org/web/20030908232013/http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Coronella_brachyura.jpg *http://www.indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=465144

Category:Colubrinae Category:Reptiles described in 1929 Category:Taxa named by Franz Werner