Cacophis | |
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Cacophis squamulosus, golden-crowned snake | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Subfamily: | Hydrophiinae |
Genus: | Cacophis Günther, 1863 |
Species | |
4, see text |
Cacophis is a genus of venomous snakes, commonly known as crowned snakes, in the family Elapidae. The genus is endemic to Australia.
All species of Cacophis have a distinct "crown" pattern on the head, which gives them their common names. They are venomous, but not dangerous to people.
The following four species are recognized as being valid. [1]
Nota bene : In the above list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicate that the species was originally described in a genus other than Cacophis.
Species of Cacophis are distributed along eastern Australia. [2] They inhabit a variety of forest types, from woodland to rainforest.
Cacophis species are generally nocturnal and feed on lizards and reptile eggs.
Anomalopus is a genus of worm-skinks, smallish smooth-scaled burrowing lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to the eastern half of Australia. The genus belongs to a clade in the Sphenomorphus group which contains such genera as Ctenotus and the close relatives Eulamprus and Gnypetoscincus.
Glaphyromorphus is a genus of lizards in the skink family (Scincidae).
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.
Pseudonaja is a genus of highly venomous elapid snakes native to Australia. Species of this genus are known commonly as brown snakes and are considered to be some of the most dangerous snakes in the world; even young snakes are capable of delivering a fatal envenomation to a human.
The Natricinae are a subfamily of colubroid snakes, sometimes referred to as a family (Natricidae). The subfamily comprises 37 genera. Members include many very common snake species, such as the European grass snakes, and the North American water snakes and garter snakes. Some Old World members of the subfamily are known as keelbacks, because their dorsal scales exhibit strong keeling.
Drysdalia is a genus of snakes, commonly known as crowned snakes, belonging to the family Elapidae. The three species in this genus are venomous snakes, but not considered deadly.
The white-lipped snake is a small species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to south-eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.
The blue-bellied black snake, also known commonly as the spotted black snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Australia.
The highland copperhead, also known as Ramsay's copperhead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae endemic to Australia.
The golden-crowned snake is a small species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Hemiaspis damelii is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. It is a relatively small species of elapid with a mean snout-vent length (SVL) of 42.6 to 60 cm. The species is endemic to eastern Australia and is most commonly found across central inland New South Wales through to the interior of south-eastern Queensland. Common names for this species include grey snake and Dämel's Snake. The specific name, damelii, is in honor of German entomologist Edward Dämel, who collected Australian specimens for Museum Godeffroy.
The western brown snake is commonly known as Mengden's brown snake, and alternatively, gwardar.
Cacophis krefftii is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The eastern dwarf mulga snake, also known commonly as the eastern pygmy mulga snake and the false king brown snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species, which is native to Australia, was genetically confirmed as a distinct species in 2017.
The pygmy mulga snake, also commonly known as the pygmy king brown snake, is a species of venomous snake in the black snake genus Pseudechis in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Australia.
Neelaps calonotos, also known commonly as the black-striped burrowing snake, the black-striped snake, and the western black-striped snake, is a species of venomous burrowing snake endemic to Australia. The specific epithet calonotos ("beautiful-backed") refers to the patterning on the upper surface of the body.
The estuarine sea snake, also known commonly as Kharin's sea snake, is a species of marine venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to waters around the northern tip of Australia in the Torres Strait.
The spectacled hooded snake, also known commonly as the Port Lincoln snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to central-southern Australia. There are three recognized subspecies.
Gould's hooded snake, also known commonly as the black-headed snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Western Australia.
Anomalopus verreauxii, also known commonly as the three-clawed worm-skink or Verreaux's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.