Tropidonophis mairii

Tropidonophis mairii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Tropidonophis
Species:	T. mairii
Binomial name
Tropidonophis mairii (Gray, 1841)
Synonyms
Tropidonotus mairii Gray, 1941 Natrix mairii — Worrell, 1946 Amphiesma mairii — Cogger & Lindner, 1974 Styporhynchus mairii — Cogger, 1983 Tropidonophis mairii — Malnate & Underwood, 1988[1]

Tropidonophis mairii, commonly known as the common keelback, Mair's keelback,^[1] the keelback, or the freshwater snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake found throughout Northern Australia.

Etymology

The specific name, mairii, is in honor of "Dr. Mair", an army surgeon with the 39th Regiment of Foot, who collected the holotype.^[2]

Description

T. mairii resembles two venomous snakes, the taipan and the rough-scaled snake. T. mairii rarely grows over 1 m (39 in) in total length (including tail).

Diet

Mair's keelback feeds mainly on amphibians and small lizards. It is one of the few snakes that can eat cane toads (Rhinella marina), up to a certain size, without being harmed.

References

Further reading

• GRAY JE. 1841. "A Catalogue of the Species of Reptiles and Amphibia hitherto described as inhabiting Australia, with a description of some New Species from Western Australia, and some remarks on their geographical distribution". Appendix E, pp. 422–449. In: GREY G. 1841. Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia, During the Years 1837, 38, and 39, Under the Authority of Her Majesty's Government. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. London: T. and W. Boone. 520 pp. (Tropidonotus mairii, new species, p. 442).