Brachyurophis fasciolatus

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Brachyurophis fasciolatus
Brachyurophis fasciolatus 2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Brachyurophis
Species:
B. fasciolatus
Binomial name
Brachyurophis fasciolatus
(Günther, 1872)
Brachyurophis fasciolatus distribution map.jpg
Synonyms

Rhinelaps fasciolatus, Rhynchoelaps fasciolatus, Simoselaps fasciolatus

Contents

Brachyurophis fasciolatus is a species of snake from the family Elapidae, commonly named the narrow-banded shovel-nosed snake, or narrow-banded burrowing snake, and is a species endemic to Australia. [2] Its common names reflect its shovel nose specialization, burrowing behaviour and banded body colour. [3]

Description

The narrow-banded shovel-nosed snake is on average 30 cm (12 in) in total length, reaching to approximately 40 cm (16 in) in total length. [2] Identification of B. fasciolatus from other species of this genus can be made by inspection of the preocular and nasal scales. This species has a scale situated between the two scales whereas other species of this genus have the preocular and nasal scale in contact. [2] The Narrow-banded burrowing snake has cream to white coloured ventral scales, of which there are 140-175, and 15-30 subcaudal scales of which are divided. [2] The anal scale is also divided. [2] The dorsal scales are brightly coloured with a pale reddish-brown to cream coloured background and black-tipped scales that form 50 or more narrow bands across the body, giving the snake its banded appearance. [2] The snout is light in colour, cream or brown and the head is black with a narrow lighter coloured band separating the black head and nape into two sections. [2] There are 17 rows of scales mid-body on average. [2]

Taxonomy

Brachyurophis fasciolatusis one of eight currently recognised species within the genus Brachyurophis, in addition there are two subspecies, Brachyurophis fasciolatus fasciatus and Brachyurophis fasciolatus fasciolatus. [2] Originally named Rhinelaps fasciolatus when first described by Günther in 1872, [4] Brachyurophis fasciolatus was renamed multiple times until its most recent rename in the early 2000s. [5] This most recent reclassification for this species, moved this species into the genus Brachyurophis. Synonyms include Rhinelaps fasciolatus (Günther 1872), Rhynchoelaps fasciolatus (Boulenger 1896), and Simoselaps fasciolatus (Cogger 1983). [5]

Phylogeny

Brachyurophis fasciolatus belongs to one of two burrowing clades of taxa found within Australian elapids and sea snakes. [3] The Simoselaps group which B. fasciolatus is a part of has a basal lineage to Australian oxyuranines. [3] Whereas positioning of the other clade is higher, therefore suggesting that rejection of monophyly for some burrowing forms should be rejected, however more research is required to determine the acceptance of diphyly. [3]

Ecology, distribution and habitat

Brachyurophis fasciolatus is distributed throughout mainland Australia, except Victoria, in arid and coastal zones. [2] The subspecies B. fasciolatus fasciolatus is found within the Western regions of Australia and B. fasciolatus fasciatus is distributed throughout central Australia. [5] The IUCN risk assessment has B. fasciolatus assessed as Least Concern, globally, [1] and the New South Wales department of Environment & Heritage lists this species as Vulnerable. [6] Brachyurophis fasciolatus a fossorial snake with a habitat preference of slopes and crests, sandy habitat such as savannas, deserts, grasslands and shrubland areas, including spinifex dunes. [7] [8]

Behaviour and reproduction

The narrow-banded shovel-nosed snake is a nocturnal fossorial species, burrowing in sandy habitats. [2] This species emerges to the surface on warm nights to forage for food. [2] Reproduction occurs via sexual reproduction. This snake is oviparous with an average clutch size of three to five eggs. [7] Oviposition (egg-laying) and hatching occurs during the warmer months with late spring to early summer as the expected time of oviposition with eggs hatched by late summer to early autumn (January - March). [8]

Diet and venom

The narrow-banded burrowing snake forages on the surface for small terrestrial lizards and their eggs. [2] Prey preference appears to be towards small skinks and their eggs. [7] [8] Two genus of skink are considered to be preferred prey items are Lerista and Ctenotus . [7] [2] These small skinks are long and slender, with often overlapping habitat use such as in Lerista sp. which are also fossorial. [7] [8] Whilst B. fasciolatus is a venomous snake its venom is generally considered mild to humans*. [2]

*Note: All snake bites should be treated as serious, regardless of envenoming.

Predators and threats

The IUCN Red List considers threats to this species as minimal due to its large distribution in low human populated areas. [1] Furthermore, in New South Wales its distribution covers a small area of its total range and threats are largely described as habitat fragmentation and damage to soil from undulates and farming practices. [6] Little information is available on specific predators of this species, however there are likely opportunistic predators such as other snakes and avian species.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elapidae</span> Family of venomous snakes

Elapidae is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydocephalus. Many members of this family exhibit a threat display of rearing upwards while spreading out a neck flap. Elapids are endemic to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, with terrestrial forms in Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas and marine forms in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Members of the family have a wide range of sizes, from the 18 cm (7.1 in) white-lipped snake to the 5.85 m king cobra. Most species have neurotoxic venom that is channeled by their hollow fangs, and some may contain other toxic components in various proportions. The family includes 55 genera with some 360 species and over 170 subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern brown snake</span> Highly venomous snake native to Australia

The eastern brown snake, often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It was first described by André Marie Constant Duméril, Gabriel Bibron, and Auguste Duméril in 1854. The adult eastern brown snake has a slender build and can grow to 2 m (7 ft) in length. The colour of its surface ranges from pale brown to black, while its underside is pale cream-yellow, often with orange or grey splotches. The eastern brown snake is found in most habitats except dense forests, often in farmland and on the outskirts of urban areas, as such places are populated by its main prey, the house mouse. The species is oviparous. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the snake as a least-concern species, though its status in New Guinea is unclear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short-nosed snake</span> Species of snake

The short-nosed snake is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Short-nosed snakes are endemic to swamplands and coastlands in the southwest of Western Australia, where they shelter in nests of stick ants, as well as dense rushes and reed tussocks. Short-nosed snakes are known to prey on small skinks mainly from the skink genus hemiergis, and small species of frogs.

<i>Simoselaps</i> Genus of snakes

Simoselaps, or Australian coral snakes, is a genus composed of 12 species of venomous elapid snakes.

<i>Brachyurophis</i> Genus of snakes

Brachyurophis is a genus of elapid snakes known as shovel-nosed snakes, so named because of their shovel-nosed snout which is used to burrow. The genus has eight recognized species, which are all found in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandy-bandy</span> Species of snake

The bandy-bandy, also commonly known as the hoop snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The word bandy-bandy (bandi-bandi) traces back to the indigenous dialect of Kattang, from the Taree region, New South Wales. There are 5 known species of bandy-bandy, all of which are endemic to Australia.

<i>Lerista labialis</i> Species of lizard

The southern sandslider is a species of skink or Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia and widespread across the continent, being most commonly found within sandy termite mounds. This is where they take safe refuge from the harsh Australian climate and various ground predators.

The collared whipsnake is a medium-sized elapid endemic to Australia. It is found in rainforest edges and other tropical woodland areas as well as in rocky habitat and environments on offshore islands.

The ghost skink is a species of skink endemic to Australia. Commonly known as the Ghost skink because of its faded dorsolateral banding when compared to other banded Erimiascincus species that have well-defined dorsolateral banding on their backs.

<i>Eremiascincus richardsonii</i> Species of lizard

The broad-banded sand-swimmer or Richardson's skink is a species of skink found in Australia.

<i>Lerista timida</i> Australian species of skink

Lerista timida, the dwarf three-toed slider or wood mulch-slider, is a species of skink found in Australia. Other common names for the species include timid slider and dwarf burrowing skink. The skink is a member of the Lerista genus which are confined to continental Australia and are mostly a burrowing species of skink. The genus consists of consists elongated, smooth-scaled, Fossorial lizards that are specialized for life in the upper soils and dry leaf litter through which they slide using Lateral undulation as a form of locomotive action, giving rise to their nickname as sliders. They normally emerge of a night-time to hunt for small Invertebrates such as ants, termites and insects. If disturbed, they dive immediately into any loose substrate to avoid predation, this behavior leaves behind a distinctive disrupted wavy track that often found on sandy flats or dunes, roads and tracks.

Brachyurophis incinctus is a species of snake from the family Elapidae, commonly named the unbanded shovel-nosed snake, and is a species endemic to Australia. Its common name reflects its shovel nose specialisation, burrowing behaviour and the fact that it is not banded on its body.

<i>Brachyurophis australis</i> Species of snake

Brachyurophis australis(coral snake) is a species of snake from the family Elapidae (common names - eastern shovel-nosed snake, coral snake, Australian coral snake) and is a species endemic to Australia. Its common name reflects its shovel nose specialisation.

Brachyurophis approximans, also known as the north-western shovel-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet approximans (“approaching”) alludes to its similarity to Brachyurophis campbelli.

Brachyurophis campbelli, also known as the Cape York shovel-nosed snake or Einasliegh shovel-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet campbelli honours a Mr W.D. Campbell who collected the type specimen in 1928 in the vicinity of Almaden, Queensland.

Brachyurophis roperi, also known as the northern shovel-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet roperi refers to the type locality of the Roper River Mission in the Northern Territory. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Brachyurophis semifasciatus.

Brachyurophis morrisi, also known as the Arnhem shovel-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet morrisi honours author and naturalist Ian James Morris for his contributions to knowledge of the animals of the Northern Territory, who first collected the species in 1970.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cowan, M., Wilson, S., & Sanderson, C. (2017). Brachyurophis fasciolatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/102706121/102706204
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Cogger, H. (2018). Reptiles and amphibians of Australia (7th ed.). Genus Brachyurophis (pp. 864-869). Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sanders, K. L., Lee, M. S. Y., Leys, R., Foster. R., & Scott Keogh, J. (2008). Molecular phylogeny and divergence dates for Australasian elapids and sea snakes (hydrophiinae): evidence from seven genes for rapid evolutionary radiations. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 21(3), 682-695. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2008.01525.x
  4. ↑ Kinghorn, R. J. (1955). Herpetological notes. No. 5. Records of the Australian Museum, 23(5), 283-286. doi: 10.3853/j.0067-1975.23.1955.638
  5. 1 2 3 Brachyurophis fasciolatus (Günther, 1872). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Brachyurophis&species=fasciolatus
  6. 1 2 Narrow-banded snake - profile. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10757
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Goodyear, S. E., & Pianka, E. R. (2008). Sympatric ecology of five species of fossorial snakes (Elapidae) in Western Australia. Journal of Herpetology, 42(2), 279-285.
  8. 1 2 3 4 How, R. A., & Shine, R. (1999). Ecological traits and conservation biology of five fossorial ‘sand-swimming’ snake species (Simoselaps: Elapidae) in south-western Australia. Journal of Zoology, 249, 269-282.
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