Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in Kerala, non-venomous with striking features and unique characteristics

In 2015, while taking care of his coffee farm in Jellipara village, Kerala, tourist guide Basil P. Das, together with his father, spotted an odd-looking snake crawling from the earth. Its distinctive black and cream markings, as well as short length, compelled them to take a closer look. Not recognising the species, Das snapped a photo of the snake, which he later showed to naturalist David V. Raju. In line with professional advice, Das carefully handled the snake, which he temporarily kept in a pot. For a couple of days, he spotted more of the same species in his coffee farm. Later, his observation of the snake spread to herpetologist Vivek Cyriac, a member of the Shieldtail Mapping Project (SMP). Ten years later, the snake was formally described and named a new species, Rhinophis siruvaniensis, in recognition of the biodiversity of the Western Ghats, particularly with the contributions of citizen science.

Rhinophis siruvaniensis: India’s newly identified shieldtail snake

The scientific name of the species, Rhinophis siruvaniensis, is a tribute to the Siruvani Hills that exist in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This species belongs to the Uropeltidae family, with a genus called Rhinophis that is exclusive to India and Sri Lanka, a fact that makes it special in some way. The shieldtail snake, commonly known as uropeltids, is named for the shield-shaped tip of the tail, which is mostly used by them to dig burrows. In India, there are six recognised species of Rhinophis, but the species is more diverse in Sri Lanka.

R. siruvaniensis has a small, non-venomous snake with a shiny brown-black coat marked with creamy white spots. The tail is capped with a shield, a characteristic of shieldtails that helps the snake navigate when burrowing through the soil. This species has been identified with careful observation of the number of scales on the top and bottom, characteristic markings, and genetic identification. It varies by 2-4% in mitochondrial DNA from its closest relative, Rhinophis melanoleucus, a species from Wayanad, making R. siruvaniensis a distinct species.

How Rhinophis siruvaniensis lives underground

The snake spends most of its life underground, with the loose soil and leaf litter. This makes it very difficult to observe, hence why the locals have known that snake for a long time. In fact, R. siruvaniensis is very specialised, with a diet that consists of what it can find in the underground environment. It sometimes comes out during monsoon periods, which indicates that it has activity seasons, as the locals perceive. Much like other shield-tailed snakes, this species is vital to the environment, where it helps to aerate the soil, thus regulating insect populations.

Notably, R. siruvaniensis is non-venomous, which means it is not harmful to human life. It is rarely encountered because it is a burrower, which makes it dependent on camouflage for protection. Although it is non-harmful, it is a useful part of the ecosystem, which is an indication that the soil is rich with biodiversity.

Conservation status and challenges

The species was found in the wild, mainly in coffee and spice plantations, outside protected habitats. The shieldtail species, such as R. siruvaniensis, is very sensitive to changes in habitats owing to their specialised burrowing behaviour. Among the factors that threaten the environment are deforestation, monocultures, as well as climatic changes and human-induced disturbances. The available research indicates that burrowing species lack the ability to readjust to changes in the environment; therefore, they are highly susceptible to rapid changes in the environment. Conservation measures remain urgently needed to prevent further population decline. Immediate protection and sustainable farming practices are critical for survival.