Uropeltidae

Uropeltidae, the shield-tail snakes, is a family of primitive, non venomous, burrowing snakes named for the hard keratinous shield at the tip of the tail. The family holds more than 50 species across seven or eight genera, depending on how one species is classified, and is endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka, concentrated in India's Western Ghats with some species in the Eastern Ghats and central hills, and across dry and wet habitats in Sri Lanka. They are small, 20 to 75 centimeters long, with small degenerate eyes covered by large shields, a stiff tail ending in enlarged spiny scales, reduced belly scales, and a smooth cylindrical body suited to life underground.