Drysdalia mastersii
Drysdalia mastersii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Drysdalia |
Species: | D. mastersii
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Binomial name | |
Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866) Worrell, 1961
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Synonyms | |
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Drysdalia mastersii, also known as Masters' snake, is a species of venomous snake endemic to southern Australia. The specific epithet mastersii honours Australian zoologist George Masters who collected specimens for Krefft.[1]
Description[]
The snake grows to an average of about 40 cm in length. The upper body is light brown to dark grey, with a pale band over the nape and a white stripe extending from the upper lip to the neck.[1]
Behaviour[]
The species is viviparous, with an average litter size of three. Its diet consists mainly of lizards.[1]
Distribution and habitat[]
The species’ distribution extends eastwards from near Esperance in Western Australia into coastal and subcoastal South Australia, as well as in south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria. It inhabits heathland, grassland and mallee habitats on sandy and limestone soils.[1] The type locality is the Flinders Ranges of South Australia.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b c d "Masters' snake". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ "Drysdalia mastersii (KREFFT, 1866)". Reptile Database. Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
External Links[]
- "Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866) — Masters' Snake". Atlas of Living Australia.
- Drysdalia
- Snakes of Australia
- Reptiles of South Australia
- Reptiles of Victoria (Australia)
- Reptiles of Western Australia
- Taxa named by Gerard Krefft
- Reptiles described in 1866
- Elapidae stubs