Pale-headed snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Hoplocephalus
Species:
H. bitorquatus
Binomial name
Hoplocephalus bitorquatus
(Jan, 1859)
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Alecto bitorquata
    Jan, 1859
  • Hoplocephalus pallidiceps
    Kreft, 1869 (part)
  • Hoplocephalus sulcans
    De Vis, 1884
  • Hoplocephalus waitii
    Ogilby, 1894
  • Hoplocephalus bitorquatus
    Boulenger, 1896
  • Denisonia angulata
    De Vis, 1905
  • Denisonia revelata
    De Vis, 1911
  • Hoplocephalus bitorquatus
    Cogger, 1983

The pale-headed snake[4] (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae.[5] The species is endemic to Australia.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described as Alecto bitorquata by Giorgio Jan in 1859.[6][7]

Description

H. bitorquatus may attain a total length of 90 cm (35 in), which includes a tail 9.5 cm (3.7 in) long. The top of the head is pale olive, with a bright yellow occipital blotch, which is edged with black. The body is dark olive dorsally, and may have a darker vertebral streak. Ventrally, it is greyish olive or brown.[3]

Distribution and habitat

H. bitorquatus is found on the eastern coast of Australia, from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to Gosford in New South Wales.[8] The preferred natural habitat of H. bitorquatus is forest.[1]

Behaviour

H. bitorquatus is arboreal.[1][2]

Diet

H. bitorquatus preys predominantly upon tree frogs, but also eats small lizards and small mammals.[1]

Reproduction

H. bitorquatus is viviparous.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Vanderduys, E.; Venz, M.; Wilson, S.; Hobson, R.; Greenlees, M.; Dickman, C.; Sanderson, C. (2018). "Hoplocephalus bitorquatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T102710108A102710283. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102710108A102710283.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Species Hoplocephalus bitorquatus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III. Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus, pp. 349–350).
  4. "Pale-headed Snake – profile". Office of Environment and Heritage (New South Wales). Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  5. "Species profile – Hoplocephalus bitorquatus (pale-headed snake)". Department of Environment and Science (Queensland). Government of Queensland. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  6. "Hoplocephalus bitorquatus (Jan, 1859)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  7. Giorgio Jan (1859). "Plan d'une iconographie descriptive des ophidiens et description sommaire de nouvelles espèces de serpents". Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée (in French). 11: 122 -130 [128]. ISSN 1259-6523. Wikidata Q108828733.
  8. Beatson, Cecilie (19 November 2020). "Pale-headed Snake". Australian Museum. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 December 2020.

Further reading

  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.