Austrelaps ramsayi
| Austrelaps ramsayi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Austrelaps |
| Species: | A. ramsayi |
| Binomial name | |
| Austrelaps ramsayi (Krefft, 1864) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Austrelaps ramsayi, commonly known as the highlands copperhead, Ramsay's copperhead,[2] or the yellow-bellied black snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Etymology
The specific name, ramsayi, is in honour of Edward Pierson Ramsay, who was an Australian ornithologist and herpetologist.[2]
Description
A. ramsayi has an average total length (including tail) of 113 cm (44 inches). It can vary in upper (dorsal) colour from mid to very dark brown, with a creamy yellow belly tinged with red between the differing colours.
Geographic range
The highlands copperhead inhabits the Alpine regions of eastern Australia, and is common in the Southern Highlands of NSW, including Mittagong, Bowral and Moss Vale.
Habitat
A. ramsayi is found in montane heath, woodland, sclerophyll forests, along water bodies, and in swampy areas with thick clumps of tussock grass.[3]
Reproduction
Austrelaps ramsayi is ovoviviparous, with between 9 and 31 young per brood.[4]
References
- ↑ "Austrelaps ramsayi ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Austrelaps ramsayi, p. 216).
- ↑ http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/threatenedspecies/07227tpagssch6pt2.pdf
- ↑ http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Elapidae/Austrelaps/ramsayi
Further reading
- Boulenger, George Albert (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. (Denisonia ramsayi, new combination, p. 338).
- Krefft, Gerard (1864). "Description of Three New Species of Australian Snakes". Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1864: 180-182. (Hoplocephalus ramsayi, new species, pp. 180-181).
- Rawlinson, P.A. (1991). "Taxonomy and distribution of the Australian tiger snakes (Notechis) and copperheads (Austrelaps) (Serpentes, Elapidae)". Proc. Royal Soc. Victoria 103 (2): 125-135. (Austrelaps ramsayi, new combination).