Pilbara death adder | |
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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: | Acanthophis |
Species: | A. wellsi
|
Binomial name | |
Acanthophis wellsi
Hoser, 1998
| |
Synonyms [2] | |
The Pilbara death adder (Acanthophis wellsi), also known commonly as Wells' death adder, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is one of the eight members of the genus Acanthophis, a genus which is found throughout northwestern and southwestern Australia and some parts of southern Papua New Guinea. [2] The species Acanthophis wellsi is endemic to Western Australia.
The Pilbara death adder was described by Raymond Hoser in 1998. [3] The specific name, wellsi, is in honor of Australian herpetologist Richard Walter Wells. [4]
Dorsally, A. wellsi is usually brick red, with narrow, close-spaced gray crossbands. Individuals called "melanistic" have a black head, and the crossbands, which are wider, are yellowish brown, edged with black. [5]
Acanthophis wellsi is found in the Hamersley Range and the Chichester Range in the Pilbara region in northern Western Australia. [2]
The preferred natural habitats of A. wellsi are grassland, shrubland, and rocky areas. [1]
Acanthophis wellsi is ovoviviparous. [2]
Pilbara death adder | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Acanthophis |
Species: | A. wellsi
|
Binomial name | |
Acanthophis wellsi
Hoser, 1998
| |
Synonyms [2] | |
The Pilbara death adder (Acanthophis wellsi), also known commonly as Wells' death adder, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is one of the eight members of the genus Acanthophis, a genus which is found throughout northwestern and southwestern Australia and some parts of southern Papua New Guinea. [2] The species Acanthophis wellsi is endemic to Western Australia.
The Pilbara death adder was described by Raymond Hoser in 1998. [3] The specific name, wellsi, is in honor of Australian herpetologist Richard Walter Wells. [4]
Dorsally, A. wellsi is usually brick red, with narrow, close-spaced gray crossbands. Individuals called "melanistic" have a black head, and the crossbands, which are wider, are yellowish brown, edged with black. [5]
Acanthophis wellsi is found in the Hamersley Range and the Chichester Range in the Pilbara region in northern Western Australia. [2]
The preferred natural habitats of A. wellsi are grassland, shrubland, and rocky areas. [1]
Acanthophis wellsi is ovoviviparous. [2]