Cryptophis boschmai

Cryptophis boschmai
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Cryptophis
Species:
C. boschmai
Binomial name
Cryptophis boschmai
Synonyms[2]
  • Denisonia boschmai
    Brongersma &
    Knaap-van Meeuven, 1964
  • Unechis carpentariae
    Worrell, 1961
  • Unechis boschmai
    — Mengden, 1983
  • Rhinoplocephalus boschmai
    – Wilson & Knowles, 1988
  • Suta boschmai
    – Shine, 1994
  • Cryptophis boschmai
    — Escoriza Boj, 2005
  • Cryptophis boschmai
    — Cogger, 2014

Cryptophis boschmai, also known commonly as the Carpentaria snake or the Carpentaria whip snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Australia and New Guinea.

Etymology

The specific epithet boschmai honours Dutch zoologist Hilbrand Boschma.[3][4]

Description

The colouration of C. boschmai is tan to dark brown on the upper body, with a pale belly. It grows to a total length (including tail) of about 45 centimetres (18 in).[3]

Behaviour

C. boschmai is terrestrial and nocturnal, sheltering during the day under bark, logs, and leaf litter.[1]

Diet

C. boschmai preys upon small lizards.[1]

Reproduction

The species C. boschmai is viviparous, with an average litter size of eight.[3]

Geographic range and habitat

The distribution of C. boschmai in Australia extends from the northern part of the Cape York Peninsula, covering eastern Queensland as far south as the border with New South Wales, where it inhabits dry forests, woodlands,[3] shrubland, and grasslands.[1] The type locality is Merauke in southern New Guinea.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Tallowin O, O'Shea M, Parker F, Greenlees M, Vanderduys E, Sanderson C, Venz M, Hobson R (2018). "Cryptophis boschmai ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T42492878A42492891.en. Downloaded on 07 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Species Cryptophis boschmai at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ a b c d "Carpentaria snake". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Rhinoplocephalus boschmai, p. 32).

Further reading

  • Brongersma LD, Knaap-van Meeuven MS (1964). "On a new species of Denisonia (Reptilia, Serpentes) from New Guinea". Zoologische Mededelingen 39: 550–554. (Denisonia boschmai, new species).
  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350. (Cryptophis boschmai, p. 873).
  • Escoriza Boj D (2005). "Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Part 1: Rainforest". Reptilia (Great Britain) (40): 70–75. (Cryptophis boschmai, new combination).
  • Mengden GA (1983). "The taxonomy of Australian elapid snakes: a review". Records of the Australian Museum 35 (5): 195–222. (Unechis boschmai, new combination, p. 216).
  • Shine R (1994). "Sexual Size Dimorphism in Snakes Revisited". Copeia 1994 (2): 326–346. (Suta boschmai, new combination).
  • Wilson SK, Knowles DG (1988). Australia's Reptiles: A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia. Sydney: William Collins. 447 pp. ISBN 978-0732200114. (Rhinoplocephalus boschmai, new combination).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.



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