Fauna
Reptile

Elliot's Earth Snake

Uropeltis ellioti

Also known as Elliot's Shieldtail

Elliot's earth snakes spend nearly their entire lives beneath damp leaf litter and loose forest soil, surfacing primarily during monsoon downpours. Their conical heads and modified rough tail shields act as compact digging implements, allowing them to tunnel through compact humus in search of prey. Unlike many oviparous snakes, females give live birth to tiny, fully formed young that disperse immediately into the subterranean leaf layer.

FossorialEndemicNocturnal
Elliot's Earth Snake reference
Davidvraju / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyEarthworms, Beetle grubs, Soil invertebrates
Predators
  • Malabar pit viper
  • Asian palm civet
  • Indian peafowl
ThreatsAgricultural expansion, pesticide accumulation in soil, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsMontane wet evergreen forests, moist deciduous woodlands, and shaded plantation soils
Life span5–10 years
Classification
  1. FamilyUropeltidae
  2. GenusUropeltis
  3. SpeciesUropeltis ellioti
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Rainy season spotting: Look along forest trails at dusk or after heavy rains when they emerge from saturated soil.
  • Preserve leaf litter: Avoid turning over soil or logs aggressively, as exposed individuals quickly dehydrate.
  • Gentle handling: Never constrain the blunt tail shield, which is essential for underground locomotion.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…