Uropeltinae

The shield-tailed snakes are a subfamily of Uropeltidae. They are distinguished from Asian pipe snakes in lacking a pelvic girdle and in having a unique eye scale. The tail is also unique in having a different arrangement of scales and a bony plate at the tip. The eight genera include Brachyophidium, Melanophidium, Platyplectrurus, Plectrurus, Pseudotyphlops, Rhinophis, Teretrurus and Uropeltis.