Ornamental snake

Ornamental snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Denisonia
Species: D. maculata
Binomial name
Denisonia maculata
(Steindachner, 1867)

The ornamental snake (Denisonia maculata) is a small elapid snake found in the Bowen Basin of Queensland, Australia. Ornamental snakes grow to about 40 centimetres in length and appear to be primarily frog eaters.[2] They are nocturnal, and are thought to shelter in soil cracks during the day. They tend to be found in areas of deeply cracking, alluvial soils.

While not generally regarded as dangerous to man, bites from this species may result in localised swelling[3] and loss of consciousness.[4] Large specimens should be treated with caution.

References

  1. Australasian Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group (1996). Denisonia maculata. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
  2. Shine, R. (1983). "Food habits and reproductive biology of Australian elapid snakes of the genus Denisonia". Journal of Herpetology. 17 (2): 171–175. doi:10.2307/1563458.
  3. Blomberg, S. P. (1997). "Local symptoms of envenomation by the Ornamental snake, Denisonia maculata (Steindachner): Elapidae". Herpetofauna. 27 (1): 46–48.
  4. Kellaway, C. H. (1934). "The venom of the ornamented snake Denisonia maculata". Australian journal of experimental biology and medical science. 12 (2): 47–54. doi:10.1038/icb.1934.7.


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