Red-naped 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: | Furina |
Species: | F. diadema
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Binomial name | |
Furina diadema | |
Synonyms | |
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The red-naped snake (Furina diadema) is a small venomous reptile [2] from the family Elapidae. [3] The snakes are found in four Australian states [3] and are listed as 'threatened' in Victoria'. [4] They are nocturnal and feed on small skinks. [2] The young eastern brown snake is similar in appearance. [5]
The red-naped snake has small black eyes, a shiny black head, and neck. Its head appears to be partially flattened. On the upper lip is a streak of white. On the back of the neck there is a well defined patch of orange or red in the shape of a diamond, crescent or oval. The belly can be either a cream colour or white. The remainder of the body is a red-brown colour. [2] The edges of these dorsal scales are either black [2] or dark brown [6] and this makes the scales look like a net. [2]
Furina diadema have a slim body and are considered a small snake. [2] They have been reported to reach a maximum length of 45 cm. [6] Other sources have reported them as reaching a maximum total length of 40 cm. [5] [1] The males are the smaller sex. [2] Theses snakes have between 160 and 210 ventral scales, a divided anal scale, between 35 and 70 subcaudal scales and generally 15 rows of mid-body scales. [1]
Although red-naped snakes are venomous, they are considered harmless to humans. If threatened they will strike out several times with their forebody held in the air, most often with a closed mouth. [1] They can bite and will do so if they are provoked enough. [2]
The red-naped snake is a terrestrial species [5] that is found in many parts of eastern Australia: in dry woodlands and forests, coastal forests and heaths, [1] tussock grasslands and shrublands. [2] It generally stays away from wet areas, like rainforests. [7] They shelter under rocks and fallen timber, in ant or termite nests, [5] under wood piles, leaves, old sheets of iron, in crevices [7] and abandoned burrows. [2]
The red-naped snake is in four Australian states of Australia; Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and also the Northern Territory. [3] It is found in arid to humid parts, from Port Augusta in South Australia to Cairns in northern Queensland. [7] Some areas in which they have been sighted include the Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site in South Australia; [8] Woomargama National Park and Mullengandra in NSW Murray Catchment; [5] in the Lower Murray darling basin, NSW; [9] around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; the Museum of Victoria notes this species is in the far north-west of the state, in riverine areas; [10] 18 National Parks in Queensland. [7]
Furina diadema prey upon little skinks. [1]
The red-naped snake is oviparous, [5] Records for clutch sizes vary: 2–5, [6] 1–10, [2] 3–6, [11] 1–5, 8 and an average of 3. [1] In subtropical regions red-naped snakes have more than one clutch in a year. [2] They hatch out of their eggs in January, unless in a cooler region, where they hatch in February. [2] The recorded lengths for snakes when they are first born vary, 12 cm (4.7 in) [2] and 15 cm (5.9 in). [6] They become adults within a year. [2]
The red-naped snake are a nocturnal species. [5] Sometimes they share their space with each other. [6] Both venom and constriction is used to kill prey. [2] They eat more in the warmer times of the year and hunt for food in restricted places such as burrows and fissures. [2]
The red-naped snake is similar in appearance to the juvenile eastern brown snake. The eastern brown snake has a lighter band between its dark head and the neck. [5] These two snakes can be differentiated by their behaviour, as the eastern brown snake is out during the day, while the red-naped snake is nocturnal and not often seen unless its retreat has been disturbed. [5]
Furina diadema are listed as 'Threatened' in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. [4]
Evidence suggests that there was a migration of Asian elapid snakes into Australia many years ago and they evolved into different genera over time, including the Furina species Furina diadema. [11]
Red-naped snake | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Furina |
Species: | F. diadema
|
Binomial name | |
Furina diadema | |
Synonyms | |
|
The red-naped snake (Furina diadema) is a small venomous reptile [2] from the family Elapidae. [3] The snakes are found in four Australian states [3] and are listed as 'threatened' in Victoria'. [4] They are nocturnal and feed on small skinks. [2] The young eastern brown snake is similar in appearance. [5]
The red-naped snake has small black eyes, a shiny black head, and neck. Its head appears to be partially flattened. On the upper lip is a streak of white. On the back of the neck there is a well defined patch of orange or red in the shape of a diamond, crescent or oval. The belly can be either a cream colour or white. The remainder of the body is a red-brown colour. [2] The edges of these dorsal scales are either black [2] or dark brown [6] and this makes the scales look like a net. [2]
Furina diadema have a slim body and are considered a small snake. [2] They have been reported to reach a maximum length of 45 cm. [6] Other sources have reported them as reaching a maximum total length of 40 cm. [5] [1] The males are the smaller sex. [2] Theses snakes have between 160 and 210 ventral scales, a divided anal scale, between 35 and 70 subcaudal scales and generally 15 rows of mid-body scales. [1]
Although red-naped snakes are venomous, they are considered harmless to humans. If threatened they will strike out several times with their forebody held in the air, most often with a closed mouth. [1] They can bite and will do so if they are provoked enough. [2]
The red-naped snake is a terrestrial species [5] that is found in many parts of eastern Australia: in dry woodlands and forests, coastal forests and heaths, [1] tussock grasslands and shrublands. [2] It generally stays away from wet areas, like rainforests. [7] They shelter under rocks and fallen timber, in ant or termite nests, [5] under wood piles, leaves, old sheets of iron, in crevices [7] and abandoned burrows. [2]
The red-naped snake is in four Australian states of Australia; Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and also the Northern Territory. [3] It is found in arid to humid parts, from Port Augusta in South Australia to Cairns in northern Queensland. [7] Some areas in which they have been sighted include the Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site in South Australia; [8] Woomargama National Park and Mullengandra in NSW Murray Catchment; [5] in the Lower Murray darling basin, NSW; [9] around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; the Museum of Victoria notes this species is in the far north-west of the state, in riverine areas; [10] 18 National Parks in Queensland. [7]
Furina diadema prey upon little skinks. [1]
The red-naped snake is oviparous, [5] Records for clutch sizes vary: 2–5, [6] 1–10, [2] 3–6, [11] 1–5, 8 and an average of 3. [1] In subtropical regions red-naped snakes have more than one clutch in a year. [2] They hatch out of their eggs in January, unless in a cooler region, where they hatch in February. [2] The recorded lengths for snakes when they are first born vary, 12 cm (4.7 in) [2] and 15 cm (5.9 in). [6] They become adults within a year. [2]
The red-naped snake are a nocturnal species. [5] Sometimes they share their space with each other. [6] Both venom and constriction is used to kill prey. [2] They eat more in the warmer times of the year and hunt for food in restricted places such as burrows and fissures. [2]
The red-naped snake is similar in appearance to the juvenile eastern brown snake. The eastern brown snake has a lighter band between its dark head and the neck. [5] These two snakes can be differentiated by their behaviour, as the eastern brown snake is out during the day, while the red-naped snake is nocturnal and not often seen unless its retreat has been disturbed. [5]
Furina diadema are listed as 'Threatened' in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. [4]
Evidence suggests that there was a migration of Asian elapid snakes into Australia many years ago and they evolved into different genera over time, including the Furina species Furina diadema. [11]