Lowland copperhead

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Lowland copperhead
LowlandcopperheadMullawallah.jpg
lowland copperhead, Mullawallah Wetland
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Austrelaps
Species:
A. superbus
Binomial name
Austrelaps superbus
Synonyms [2]

Hoplocephalus superbus Günther, 1858
Denisonia superbaBoulenger, 1896

Contents

The lowland copperhead or lowlands copperhead (Austrelaps superbus) is a venomous snake species in the family Elapidae, found in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is commonly referred to as the copperhead, but is not closely related to the American copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix . If provoked, the lowland copperhead is a dangerous snake with neurotoxic venom, which can kill an adult human if correct first aid is not applied promptly. [3] [4]

Description

The lowland copperhead is generally 1-1.5 m (3–5 feet) long. [5] Their colour varies a great deal, from a coppery mid-brown to yellowish, reddish, grey or black. The copper head colouring that gave rise to the common name is not always present. Its venom has been measured at 0.5 mg/kg subcutaneous.[ clarification needed ]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. A. superbus has a preference for areas of low vegetation near water bodies where it hunts for frogs, lizards and snakes, including smaller specimens of its own species. [5] It has been found in sandstone ridgetop woodland in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, where it is becoming rare, due to increasing fires and the spread of urban settlements. [6]

Venom

The venom of lowland copperhead contains postsynaptic neurotoxins. There have been a dozen reported bites from this species, with one fatality. [7]

Related Research Articles

Protected areas of Tasmania consist of protected areas located within Tasmania and its immediate onshore waters, including Macquarie Island. It includes areas of crown land managed by Tasmanian Government agencies as well as private reserves. As of 2016, 52% of Tasmania's land area has some form of reservation classification, the majority is managed by the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service. Marine protected areas cover about 7.9% of state waters.

Copperhead may refer to:

<i>Austrelaps</i> Genus of snakes

Austrelaps is a genus of venomous elapid snakes native to the relatively fertile, temperate, southern and eastern part of the Australian continent. Three species are currently recognized, with no subspecies. They are commonly called copperheads or Australian copperheads. They are not closely related to the American copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix.

<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 varying proportions. The family includes 55 genera with around 360 species and over 170 subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cradle Mountain</span> Mountain in Tasmania

Cradle Mountain is a locality and mountain in the Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Tasmania. The mountain is situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiger snake</span> Highly venomous snake native to southern Australia and Tasmania

The tiger snake is a large and highly venomous snake of southern Australia, including its coastal islands and Tasmania. These snakes are often observed and locally well known by their banding, black and yellow like a tiger, although the species can be highly variable in colouration and patterning. All populations are classified within the genus Notechis (Elapidae). Their diverse characteristics have been classified either as distinct species or by subspecies and regional variation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy copperhead</span> Venomous snake of South Australia

The pygmy copperhead is an Australian venomous elapid snake species found on Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. It is from the Austrelaps genus along with two other species of copperhead, the Highland and Lowland copperhead snakes.

<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 extremely 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">Red-bellied black snake</span> Venomous snake native to eastern Australia

The red-bellied black snake is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae, indigenous to Australia. Originally described by George Shaw in 1794 as a species new to science, it is one of eastern Australia's most commonly encountered snakes. Averaging around 1.25 m in length, it has glossy black upperparts, bright red or orange flanks, and a pink or dull red belly. It is not aggressive and generally retreats from human encounters, but can attack if provoked. Although its venom can cause significant illness, no deaths have been recorded from its bite, which is less venomous than other Australian elapid snakes. The venom contains neurotoxins, myotoxins, and coagulants and has haemolytic properties. Victims can also lose their sense of smell.

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

The dugite is a species of venomous, potentially lethal snake native to Western Australia, a member of the family Elapidae.

<i>Sinomicrurus macclellandi</i> Species of snake

Sinomicrurus macclellandi, commonly known as MacClelland's coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to southern and eastern Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-lipped snake</span> Species of snake

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.

Dunmall's snake is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwyer's snake</span> Species of snake

Dwyer's snake also known as the variable black-naped snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia, where it is found from New South Wales to South Queensland. While closely related to Australian sea snakes, S. dwyeri is a terrestrial reptile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-faced whipsnake</span> Species of snake

The yellow-faced whip snake is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae, a family containing many dangerous snakes. D. psammophis is endemic to Australia, found throughout the continent in a variety of habitats from coastal fringes to interior arid scrubland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-bellied black snake</span> Venomous snake native to northeastern Australia

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland copperhead</span> Highly venomous snake native to southeastern Australia

The highland copperhead, also known as Ramsay's copperhead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae endemic to Australia.

Aipysurus duboisii, also known commonly as Dubois' sea snake and the reef shallows sea snake, is a species of extremely venomous snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. Its geographic range includes Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the northern, eastern and western coastal areas of Australia, that is the Coral Sea, Arafura Sea, Timor Sea and Indian Ocean. It lives at depths up to 80 meters in coral reef flats, sandy and silty sediments which contain seaweed, invertebrates and corals or sponges that can serve as shelter. It preys upon moray eels and various fish that live on the seafloor, up to 110 cm in size. A. duboisii is viviparous, giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs. It displays medium aggressiveness, i.e., will bite if provoked, but not spontaneously. The fangs are 1.8 mm long, which are relatively short for a snake, and the venom yield is 0.43 mg. Aipysurus duboisii is a crepuscular species, meaning that it is most active at dawn and dusk.

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

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. Its common names reflect its shovel nose specialization, burrowing behaviour and banded body colour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallee black-backed snake</span> Species of snake

The Mallee black-backed snake also known as the Mitchell's short-tailed snake or more commonly as the black-backed snake, is a species of venomous snake from the family Elapidae. This species is native to Australia and is found in a variety of habitats in southern mainland Australia.

References

  1. Michael, D.; Clemann, N.; Robertson, P. (2018). "Austrelaps superbus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017. e.T102704097A102704137. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102704097A102704137.en .
  2. Australian Biological Resources Study (22 August 2013). "Species Austrelaps superbus (Günther, 1858)". Australian Faunal Directory. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. TPWS: Wildlife of Tasmania – Lowland Copperhead. Parks.tas.gov.au (2008-07-11). Retrieved on 2013-01-03.
  4. Cogger, H.G. (1979). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed: Sydney. ISBN   0-589-50108-9
  5. 1 2 Parks & Wildlife Service – Lowland copperhead, Austrelaps superbus Archived 2011-08-23 at the Wayback Machine . Parks.tas.gov.au (2008-07-11). Retrieved on 2013-01-03.
  6. Hawkeswood, T.J.; Turner, J.R. (2008). "A record of Austrelaps superbus (Günther, 1858)(Reptilia: Elapidae) from Leura, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia with a description of its habitat" (PDF). Calodema: Supplementary Paper No. 90. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  7. O'Shea, Mark (2005). Venomous Snakes of the World. New Holland Publishers Ltd. p. 120. ISBN   9781847730862.