Brachyurophis morrisi
| Arnhem shovel-nosed snake | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Brachyurophis |
| Species: | B. morrisi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyurophis morrisi (Horner, 1998)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Brachyurophis morrisi, also known commonly as the Arnhem shovel-nosed snake, is a species of small, mildly venomous, burrowing snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Etymology
[edit | edit source]The specific epithet, morrisi, honours Australian author and naturalist Ian James Morris, who was the first to collect the species in 1970, for his contributions to the knowledge of the animals of the Northern Territory.[3][4]
Description
[edit | edit source]Brachyurophis morrisi grows to an average total length (tail included) of about 30 cm (12 in). The head is pale yellowish brown. Dorsally, the body is orange-brown in colour and unbanded apart from a dark band across the nape. The body scales are often dark-edged.[3][5]: 586
Geographic distribution
[edit | edit source]The geographic range of Brachyurophis morrisi is limited to northern Arnhem Land in the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory.[3]
Habitat
[edit | edit source]The preferred natural habitat of Brachyurophis morrisi is forest or savanna on sandy soil dominated by Eucalyptus miniata.[1][3]
Diet
[edit | edit source]Brachyurophis morrisi feeds on reptile eggs.[3]
Reproduction
[edit | edit source]Brachyurophis morrisi is oviparous.[2][3]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Species Brachyurophis morrisi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (Simoselaps morrisi, p. 183).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). 688 pp.
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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