Drysdalia mastersii

Drysdalia mastersii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Drysdalia
Species:	D. mastersii
Binomial name
Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866)
Synonyms
Hoplocephalus mastersii Krefft, 1866 Denisonia coronoides Boulenger, 1896 Notechis mastersii Storr, 1982

Drysdalia mastersii, also known as Masters's snake, is a species of venomous snake endemic to southern Australia. The specific epithet mastersii honours Australian zoologist George Masters who collected specimens for Gerard Krefft.[2]

Description

The snake grows to an average of about 40 cm in length. The upper body is light brown to dark grey, with a pale band over the nape and a white stripe extending from the upper lip to the neck.[2]

Behaviour

The species is viviparous, with an average litter size of three. Its diet consists mainly of lizards.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The species’ distribution extends eastwards from near Esperance in Western Australia into coastal and subcoastal South Australia, as well as in south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria. It inhabits heathland, grassland and mallee habitats on sandy and limestone soils.[2] The type locality is the Flinders Ranges of South Australia.[3]

References

1. Cogger, H.; Ellis, R.; Shea, G. (2017). "Drysdalia mastersii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T177527A83453128. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T177527A83453128.en. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
2. "Masters' snake". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
3. "Drysdalia mastersii (KREFFT, 1866)". Reptile Database. Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. Retrieved 30 May 2021.

External links

• "Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866) — Masters' Snake". Atlas of Living Australia.