Red-naped snake: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 10:21, 13 October 2014
| Red-naped snake | |
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| Species: | F. diadema |
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| Furina diadema *Schlegel, 1937[1] | |
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The red-naped snake (Furina diadema) is a small poisonous reptile [2] from the Elapidae family.[3] They are found in four Australian states [3] and are listed as 'Threatened' in Victoria'.[4] They are nocturnal and feed on small skinks.[2] The young eastern brown snake is similar in appearance.[5]
Description
The red-naped snake has small black eyes, a shiny black head, and neck. Their head appears to be partially flattened. On the upper lip is a streak of white. On the back of the neck there is a well defined patch of orange or red in the shape of a diamond, crescent or oval. Their belly can be either a cream colour or white. The remainder of their body is a red-brown colour.[2] The edges of these dorsal scales are either black[2] or dark brown[6] and this makes the scales look like a net.[2]
Furina diadema have a slim body and are considered a small snake.[2] They have been reported to reach a maximum length of 45 cm.[6] Other sources have reported them as reaching a maximum total length of 40 cm.[5][1] The males are the smaller sex.[2] Theses snakes have between 160 and 210 ventral scales, a divided anal scale, between 35 and 70 subcaudal scales and generally the mid-body has 15 rows of scales.[1]
Venom
Although the red-naped snake is venomous they are considered harmless to humans. If threatened they will strike out several times with their forebody held in the air. This is done most often with a closed mouth.[1] They can bite however and will do so if they are provoked enough.[2]
Habitat
The red-naped snake is a terrestrial species[5] that is found in many parts of eastern Australia: in dry woodlands and forests, coastal forests and heaths,[1] tussock grasslands and shrublands.[2] It generally stays away from wet areas, like rainforests.[7] They shelter under rocks and fallen timber, in ant or termite nests,[5] under wood piles, leaves, old sheets of iron, in crevices[7] and abandoned burrows.[2]
Geographic range
The red-naped snake is in four Australian states; Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia.[3] It is found in arid to humid parts of eastern Australia, from Port Augusta in South Australia to Cairns in northern Queensland.[7] Some areas they have been sighted include: the Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site in South Australia;[8] Woomargama National Park and Mullengandra in NSW Murray Catchment;[5] in the Lower Murray darling basin, NSW;[9] the Museum of Victoria has records of this species from the far north-west and riverine areas;[10] 18 National Parks in Queensland.[7]
Diet
Furina diadema prey upon little skinks.[1]
Reproduction
The red-naped snake is oviparious,[5] Their clutch size records vary: 2-5,[6] 1-10[2] 3-6,[11] 1-5, 8 and an average of 3.[1] In subtropical regions they have more than one clutch in a year.[2] They hatch out of their eggs in January, unless in a cooler region, where they hatch in February.[2] The recorded lengths for snakes when they are first born vary, 12 cm[2] and 15 cm.[6] They become adults within a year.[2]
Behaviour
The red-naped snake are a nocturnal species. [5] Sometimes they share their space with each other.[6] Both venom and constriction is used to kill prey.[2] They eat more in the warmer times of the year and hunt for food in restricted places such as burrows and fissures.[2]
Similar species
They are similar in appearance to the juvenile eastern brown snake. The eastern brown snake has a lighter band between their dark head and the neck.[5] These two snakes can be differentiated by their behaviour as the eastern brown snake is out during the day, while the red-naped snake is nocturnal and not often seen unless their retreat has been disturbed.[5]
Conservation status
Furina diadema are listed as 'Threatened' in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.[4]
Origin
Evidence suggests that there was a migration of Asian elapid snakes into Australia many years ago and they evolved into different genera over time including the Furina species Furina diadema.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g H., Cogger (2014). Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. p. 895.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Cronin, Leonard (2001-01-01). Australian Reptiles and Amphibians. Jon Carpenter Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85881-186-7. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ^ a b c "Furina diadema | The Reptile Database". reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ^ a b "Department of Environment & Primary Industries Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Threatened List May 2014" (PDF). depi.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-10-05. Cite error: The named reference ":5" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Michael, Damian; Lindenmayer, David (2010-04-01). Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment: A Guide to Their Identification, Ecology and Conservation. Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-10189-0. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ^ a b c d e Swan, G (1900). A field guide to the snakes and lizards of New South Wales. p. 186.
- ^ a b c d "Red-naped snake (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection)". ehp.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ^ "Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention in Australia – a showcase of Australian Ramsar sites" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ^ "Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions - Species List" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ^ "Red-naped Snake: Museum Victoria". museumvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ^ a b Shine, Richard (January 1995). Australian Snakes: A Natural History. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-8261-5. Retrieved 2014-10-05.