Pale-headed snake | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Hoplocephalus |
Species: | H. bitorquatus
|
Binomial name | |
Hoplocephalus bitorquatus (
Jan, 1859)
| |
Synonyms [2] [3] | |
The pale-headed snake [4] (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. [5] The species is endemic to Australia.
The species was originally described as Alecto bitorquata by Giorgio Jan in 1859. [6] [7]
H. bitorquatus may attain a total length of 90 cm (35 in), which includes a tail 9.5 cm (3.7 in) long. The top of the head is pale olive, with a bright yellow occipital blotch, which is edged with black. The body is dark olive dorsally, and may have a darker vertebral streak. Ventrally, it is greyish olive or brown. [3]
H. bitorquatus is found on the eastern coast of Australia, from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to Gosford in New South Wales. [8] The preferred natural habitat of H. bitorquatus is forest. [1]
H. bitorquatus is arboreal. [1] [2]
H. bitorquatus preys predominantly upon tree frogs, but also eats small lizards and small mammals. [1]
H. bitorquatus is viviparous. [2]
Pale-headed snake | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Hoplocephalus |
Species: | H. bitorquatus
|
Binomial name | |
Hoplocephalus bitorquatus (
Jan, 1859)
| |
Synonyms [2] [3] | |
The pale-headed snake [4] (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. [5] The species is endemic to Australia.
The species was originally described as Alecto bitorquata by Giorgio Jan in 1859. [6] [7]
H. bitorquatus may attain a total length of 90 cm (35 in), which includes a tail 9.5 cm (3.7 in) long. The top of the head is pale olive, with a bright yellow occipital blotch, which is edged with black. The body is dark olive dorsally, and may have a darker vertebral streak. Ventrally, it is greyish olive or brown. [3]
H. bitorquatus is found on the eastern coast of Australia, from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to Gosford in New South Wales. [8] The preferred natural habitat of H. bitorquatus is forest. [1]
H. bitorquatus is arboreal. [1] [2]
H. bitorquatus preys predominantly upon tree frogs, but also eats small lizards and small mammals. [1]
H. bitorquatus is viviparous. [2]