Broad-headed snake
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2021) |
| Broad-headed snake | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Hoplocephalus |
| Species: | H. bungaroides
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| Binomial name | |
| Hoplocephalus bungaroides (Schlegel, 1837)
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The broad-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is restricted to the Sydney Basin in New South Wales, Australia. It is one of three snakes in the genus Hoplocephalus, all restricted to eastern Australia. It is currently endangered in New South Wales and is listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Legislation.
Taxonomy
[edit]The broad-headed snake has had a confused taxonomy. The species name Naja bungaroides, with an insufficient diagnosis, was originally coined in 1828 by Friedrich Boie for the king cobra. Johann Georg Wagler validated N. bungaroides in 1830 with a more accurate diagnosis and reclassified it into its own genus, Hoplocephalus. In 1837, German naturalist Hermann Schlegel officially described the broad-headed snake, but broke the principle of priority by using the name Naja bungaroides for it and moving the king cobra to Naja bungarus. The species name Hoplocephalus bungaroides became conflated with the broad-headed snake after this, despite technically being the oldest name for the king cobra. The discrepancy was finally discovered in 2024; due to the longstanding usage of the species name in the scientific literature, it was decided to maintain Hoplocephalus bungaroides as the scientific name for the broad-headed snake and designate a new type specimen for it.[4][5]
Description
[edit]
The broad-headed snake is a small to medium-sized species of venomous snake, which attains an average total length (including tail) of 60 cm (24 in), although some records show that it can grow as long as 90 cm (35 in). It is black with numerous irregular yellow markings arranged in narrow cross-bands,[6] which for inexperienced people can easily lead to confusion with a young diamond python, which is superficially very similar and found in the same habitat.[citation needed]In 2023 a man was bitten in the Southern Highlands of NSW after capturing a Broad-headed snake he believed to be a Diamond Python to show his children.[7]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The broad-headed snake is found in the Sydney Basin in New South Wales, Australia. The snake's choice of habitat depends on temperature, age, sex, and breeding status. In the colder months, adult and juvenile snakes reside in the crevices of sandstone outcrops on exposed cliff edges to maximise warmth from the sun. When the temperature rises in spring, adult males and non-breeding females move to adjacent woodlands and forests, inhabiting hollow trees during the summer months. Juvenile snakes and gravid females remain in the rocks and move to cooler, shaded areas.[citation needed]
Their habitat has been degraded by urbanization, illegal rock removal, vandalisation and indiscriminate reptile collecting. The sandstone rocks that the snakes occupy are valued for landscaping purposes. Their removal has led to a loss of habitat for both the snakes and their prey.[citation needed]
Behavior
[edit]Diet
[edit]The broad-headed snake feeds infrequently on small reptiles and mammals. Snakes in captivity are able to maintain or gain weight when fed one to two newborn rats per month. In one documented case, a snake survived a fast lasting twelve months.[citation needed]
Juveniles feed mostly on Lesueur's velvet gecko (Amalosia lesueurii) and occasionally on small skinks. Adults feed on Lesueur's velvet gecko, but also prey on other lizards, small snakes, and mice.[1]
Breeding
[edit]Male broad-headed snakes reach maturity after five years whereas females require six. Mating occurs from autumn to spring, and mature females produce a litter every two years. Unlike most of its venomous counterparts, the broad-headed snake gives birth to live young. Birth occurs between January and April, with each litter resulting in 4–12 offspring born in mucous sacks. Unfertilized oocytes and stillborn offspring are common.[citation needed]
Conservation status
[edit]The broad-headed snake was once commonly found in parts of Sydney including around Sydney Harbour; however, it is currently listed as an endangered species in New South Wales and vulnerable under the national Commonwealth Legislation. Its declining numbers are the result of a combination of factors including habitat loss through urbanisation, bush rock removal and irresponsible collecting.[citation needed]
Sources
[edit]- Wildlife of Sydney Fact File
- DEH Species Profiles - Hoplocephalus bungaroides - Broad-headed Snake[dead link]
- A snake bite victim's case of mistaken identity
References
[edit]- ^ a b Webb, J.; Fenner, A.; Shea, G.; Cogger, H.; Greenlees, M. (2018). "Hoplocephalus bungaroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T10246A83770106. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T10246A83770106.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Species Hoplocephalus bungaroides at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Schlegel H (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale. xxviii + 251 pp. AND Partie Descriptive. 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (Naja bungaroides, new species, pp. 477–478). (in French).
- ^ Das, Indraneil; Shankar, P. Gowri; Swamy, Priyanka; Williams, Rhiannon C.; Lalremsanga, Hmar Tlawmte; Prashanth, P.; Sahoo, Gunanidhi; Vijayakumar, S. P.; Höglund, Jacob; Shanker, Kartik; Dutta, Sushil K.; Ganesh, S. R.; Wüster, Wolfgang (2024-10-16). "Taxonomic revision of the king cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) species complex (Reptilia: Serpentes: Elapidae), with the description of two new species". European Journal of Taxonomy. 961: 1–51. doi:10.5852/ejt.2024.961.2681. ISSN 2118-9773.
- ^ 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. (Hoplocephalus bungaroides, pp. 348–349).
- ^ A snake bite victim’s case of mistaken identity https://www.2st.com.au/local-news/highlands/a-snake-bite-victims-case-of-mistaken-identity/
Further reading
[edit]- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
- Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.