Hemiaspis signata

Hemiaspis signata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Hemiaspis
Species:	H. signata
Binomial name
Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859) [2]
Synonyms
Alecto signataJan, 1859 Denisonia signata — Boulenger, 1896 Drepanodontis signata — Rankin, 1972 Hemiaspis signata — Cogger, 1983 [3]

Hemiaspis signata (common names: black-bellied swamp snake ^[4] and marsh snake ^[5] ) is a species of venomous elapid snake endemic to Australia, where it is found along the east coast. ^[6]

Recognisable by two distinctive narrow white lines on the face, the colour can range from pale olive to black top with a dark grey to black belly. Adults can grow to 70 cm in length, but most specimens are smaller than this. Their diet consists mainly of skinks and frogs. ^[5]

It was first described in 1859 by Giorgio Jan as Alecto signata. ^{[7] [8]}

References

1. Shea, G.; Venz, M.; Wilson, S.; Hobson, R.; Vanderduys, E. (2018). "Hemiaspis signata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018 e.T102709942A102710051. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102709942A102710051.en . Retrieved 18 August 2023.
2. "Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 20 July 2014.
3. "Hemiaspis signata The Reptile Database". www.reptile-database.org.
4. Isbister, GK; Dawson, AH; Whyte, IM (March 2002). "Two cases of bites by the black-bellied swamp snake (Hemiaspis signata)". Toxicon. 40 (3): 317–9. doi:10.1016/s0041-0101(01)00221-5. PMID   11711130.
5. "Whip Snakes and Marsh Snakes Fact Sheet" (PDF). Queensland Museum. 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
6. "Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859) - Black-bellied Swamp Snake". Atlas of Living Australia . Retrieved 20 July 2014.
7. "Australian Faunal Directory: Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859)". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
8. 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.

Further reading

• 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. (Denisonia signata, pp. 338–339).
• Jan G, Sordelli F. 1873. Iconographie générale des Ophidiens, Quarante-troisième livraison. Paris: Baillière. Index + Plates I-VI. (Alecto signata, Plate VI, figure 5). (in French).