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.
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