Rediscovery and systematics of Rhinophis fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from India’s Western Ghats Author Gower, David J. Natural History Museum, London SW 7 5 BD, UK. & Department of Zoology, Central University of Kerala, Kerala, 671320, India. Author Narayanan, Surya SM Sehgal Foundation Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Bangalore, Karnataka - 560064, India. Author Deepak, V. Natural History Museum, London SW 7 5 BD, UK. & Senckenberg Dresden, Königsbrücker Landstrasse 159, 01109 Dresden, Germany. & University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton WV 1 1 LY, UK. Author Anvar, Muhammed State Forest Training Institute, Kerala Forest Department, Arippa, Kollam, Kerala - 691310, India. Author Das, Sandeep Centre for Research in Emerging Tropical Diseases, Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Thenhipalam, Kerala, 673635, India Aranyakam Nature Foundation, Kochi, Kerala, 682037, India text Zootaxa 2023 2023-11-15 5374 1 74 92 https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/download/zootaxa.5374.1.4/52277 journal article 279398 10.11646/zootaxa.5374.1.4 48511291-2bad-42a2-8d03-274c591b18b4 1175-5326 10144986 7BAA31D4-6D2D-4249-B9A1-EB55C003E1DF Revised key to the Indian species of Rhinophis This is an updated version of the key presented by Sampaio et al . (2020) , revised with the addition of new information on phenotypic variation in R. fergusonianus . All six species are endemic to peninsular India and are the only members of this genus known to occur in India . 1 Number of dorsal scale rows slightly behind midbody 17...................................................... 2 - Number of dorsal scale rows slightly behind midbody 15...................................................... 3 2 Ventral shields fewer than 160............................................................... R. travancoricus - Ventral shields more than 180.................................................................... R. goweri 3 Ventral shields> 215...................................................................... R. melanoleucus - Ventral shields <215.................................................................................. 4 4 Ventral surface with dark blotches, often in irregular, staggered, transverse half-bands (or an irregular midline zigzag); verified localities < 200 m elevation................................................................. R. fergusonianus - Ventral surface with irregular dark speckles or spots; verified localities> 700 m elevation........................... 5 5 venter background colour bright red in life (paler, more orange-yellow in smaller specimens)............... R. sanguineus - venter whitish (to pale orange anteriorly and posteriorly) with dark markings......................... R. karinthandani