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Definition of shield-tailed snake
shield-tailed snake
Plural:shield-tailed snakes
shield-tailed snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various nonvenomous, burrowing snakes belonging to the family Uropeltidae, native to southern India and Sri Lanka, distinguished by an enlarged, flattened scale at the tip of the tail used to plug the entrance of their tunnels.
Example
"During the monsoon season in the Western Ghats, the researchers carefully excavated a shield-tailed snake from the damp forest soil."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound name referring to the snake's unique morphological adaptation: a flattened, shield-like scale at the tip of its tail, which it uses to block the entrance to its underground burrows.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shield-tailed snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shield-tailed snake