Rhinophis fergusonianus

Rhinophis fergusonianus, commonly known as the Cardamom Hills earth snake, is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

Etymology
The specific name, fergusonianus, is in honor of Scottish zoologist Harold S. Ferguson.

Geographic range
R. fergusonianus is only known from the type specimen collected in the Cardamom Hills in Travancore, a part of the southern Western Ghats in modern Kerala, southeastern India.

Description
The holotype of R. fergusonianus measures 32 cm in total length (including tail), 40 times its width. The eyes are very small. The snout is acutely pointed. The body is longitudinally striated. It is blackish above, and the sides are white, dotted and spotted with black. The belly is white, with black dots and two series of large black spots, partially confluent into a zigzag band. The caudal disc is black and edged all round with yellow.

Reproduction
R. fergusonianus is viviparous.

Habitat and conservation
The habitats and ecology of this species, R. fergusonianus, and threats to it, are unknown.