Biology:Brachyurophis morrisi

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Short description: Species of Australian snake

Brachyurophis morrisi
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Brachyurophis
Species:
B. morrisi
Binomial name
Brachyurophis morrisi
(Horner, 1998)
Synonyms
  • Simoselaps morrisi Horner 1998

Brachyurophis morrisi, also known as the Arnhem shovel-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia . The specific epithet morrisi honours author and naturalist Ian James Morris for his contributions to knowledge of the animals of the Northern Territory, who first collected the species in 1970.[2]

Description

The species grows to an average of about 23 cm in length. It is orange-brown in colour and unbanded apart from a dark band across the nape. The body scales are often dark-edged.[2]

Behaviour

The species is oviparous. It feeds on reptile eggs.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The species’ range is limited to northern Arnhem Land in the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory, where it occurs in woodland dominated by Eucalyptus miniata.[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q3484671 entry