''Aspidura trachyprocta'', the common rough-sided snake, known as දලව මැඩිල්ලා (dalawa medilla) in Sinhala, is a

colubrid Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from , 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest fossil species of the family date back to the Late Eocene epoch, with earlier origins suspected. Colu ...

species endemic to

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

Distribution

A commonly encountered small burrowing snake from midhills to montane limits of central Sri Lanka. Localities recorded are Gammaduwa,

Monaragala Monaragala (; ) is a town located in Monaragala District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka. It is the largest town and the capital of Monaragala District and is located southeast of Badulla, the capital city of Uva Province. Monaragala is situated about ...

, Labukele,

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya ( ; ) is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means "city on the plain (table land)" or "city of light". The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landsc ...

, Harasbedda, Eskdale, Central Kandy, Pundaluoya, Longton Estate, Diyagama Estate,

Nanu Oya Nanu Oya is a long stream in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It originates at an elevation of over on Pidurutalagala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka, flowing into the Kotmale Oya at an elevation of approximately . The Kotmale Oya is a tri ...

, Sita Eliya,

Ambewela Ambewela (; ) is a village, and a hill station, located in the Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka. The area is also sometimes called "Little New Zealand". The town is approximately south-east of the district capital Nuwara Eliya. Ambewela is a ...

, Pattipola, Hakgala,

Horton Plains National Park Horton Plains National Park () is a national park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka that was designated in 1988. It covers an area of 31km² and borders Thotupalakanda Nature Reserve. It is located at an elevation of and encompasses montane ...

Namunukula Namunukula, literally "Nine Peaks" in Sinhala language, is the name of a mountain range in Sri Lanka's province of Uva. Its main peak is high. The nearby town is also sometimes called Namunukula Town. During the Ming treasure voyages of the 15 ...

Kandy Kandy (, ; , ) is a major city located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka, Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of ...

, Radella, Ramboda, and

Diyatalawa Diyatalawa (), (), meaning ) is a former garrison town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, in the Badulla District of Uva Province. It is situated at an altitude of and has become a popular destination for local holiday makers. It is home ...

at elevations of 750-2100m.

Description

Head indistinct from neck, body is cylindrical. Dorsum range from blackish brown to light reddish brown, with lateral stripes and 2–3 rows of dark dorsal spots. Venter varying from being heavily blotched with black to light yellow with a red tint and just blotched on midline.

Scalation

Midbody scale rows 15. Pre-oculars present. 2 Post-oculars contact with parietal. Ventrals 128–151. Subcaudals 11–26.

Ecology

Found in piles of humus, leaf litter and rotten timber, within agricultural lands.

Reproduction

4–12 eggs at a time, measuring 16 × 25mm.

References

External links

* * http://lankanaturesummary.blogspot.com/2014/03/common-rough-sided-snake-aspidura.html {{Taxonbar, from=Q2866868 trachyprocta Reptiles of Sri Lanka Reptiles described in 1860 Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope