[6] U. bhupathyi is named in honour of Indian herpetologist and biologist Subramanian Bhupathy.

[7][8] The species, although native to the Western Ghats in India, has so far only been traced in the Anaikatti hills in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

[9][10][11][12] U. bhupathyi, a non-venomous burrowing species, usually feeds on earthworms.

It is dark brown in colour, with yellow stripes on either side of neck and tail.

[18] It also possibly suffers from a condition rendering its head deformed, reminiscent of the snake fungal disease prevalent in North America and Europe.