Shine's whipsnake

Demansia shinei
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Demansia
Species:	D. shinei
Binomial name
	Demansia shinei; Shea, 2007

Last updated October 06, 2025

Shine's whipsnake (Demansia shinei) also known commonly as Shine's Australian whipsnake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae.^[2] The species is endemic to Australia.

Etymology

The specific name, shinei, is in honour of Australian herpetologist Richard "Rick" Shine.^[3]

Geographic range

D. shinei is found in Northern Territory and Western Australia, Australia.^[4]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of D. shinei are desert, rocky areas, grassland, shrubland, and savanna.^[1]

Description

Medium-sized for its genus, D. shinei may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 62 cm (24 in). Dorsally, it is pale grey-brown. Ventrally, it is lemon yellow. The top of the head is brown, followed by a narrow yellow crossband on the nape, followed by a wider brown crossband.^[5]

Reproduction

D. shinei is oviparous.^[4]

References

1 2 Shea, G.; Ellis, R. (2017). "Demansia shinei ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017 e.T42493035A42493037. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T42493035A42493037.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
↑ Australian Biological Resources Study (19 March 2013). "Species Demansia shinei Shea & Scanlon, 2007". Australian Faunal Directory. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Demansia shinei, p. 242).
1 2 Species Demansia shinei at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
↑ Shea in Shea & Scanlon (2007).

Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
Shea GM, Scanlon JD (2007). "Revision of the Small Tropical Whipsnakes Previously Referred to Demansia olivacea (Gray, 1842) and Demansia torquata (Günther, 1862) (Squamata: Elapidae)". Records of the Australian Museum59: 117–142. ("Demansia shinei Shea", new species, pp. 135–136, Figures 18–19).
Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.

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[iucn_status_19_November_2021-1] 1 2 Shea, G.; Ellis, R. (2017). "Demansia shinei ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017 e.T42493035A42493037. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T42493035A42493037.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.

[AFD-2] Australian Biological Resources Study (19 March 2013). "Species Demansia shinei Shea & Scanlon, 2007". Australian Faunal Directory. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 2 September 2018.

[3] Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Demansia shinei, p. 242).

[RDB-4] 1 2 Species Demansia shinei at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

[5] Shea in Shea & Scanlon (2007).

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