Biology:Red-naped snake
| Red-naped snake | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Furina |
| Species: | F. diadema
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| Binomial name | |
| Furina diadema Schlegel, 1837[1]
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| Synonyms | |
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The red-naped snake (Furina diadema) is a small venomous reptile[2] from the family Elapidae.[3] The snakes are found in four Australian states [3] and are listed as 'threatened' in Victoria'.[4] They are nocturnal and feed on small skinks.[2] The young eastern brown snake is similar in appearance.[5]
Description
The red-naped snake has small black eyes, a shiny black head, and neck. Its head appears to be partially flattened. On the upper lip is a streak of white. On the back of the neck there is a well defined patch of orange or red in the shape of a diamond, crescent or oval. The belly can be either a cream colour or white. The remainder of the body is a red-brown colour.[2] The edges of these dorsal scales are either black[2] or dark brown[6] and this makes the scales look like a net.[2]
Furina diadema have a slim body and are considered a small snake.[2] They have been reported to reach a maximum length of 45 cm.[6] Other sources have reported them as reaching a maximum total length of 40 cm.[5][1] The males are the smaller sex.[2] Theses snakes have between 160 and 210 ventral scales, a divided anal scale, between 35 and 70 subcaudal scales and generally 15 rows of mid-body scales.[1]
Venom
Although red-naped snakes are venomous, they are considered harmless to humans. If threatened they will strike out several times with their forebody held in the air, most often with a closed mouth.[1] They can bite and will do so if they are provoked enough.[2]
Habitat
The red-naped snake is a terrestrial species[5] that is found in many parts of eastern Australia: in dry woodlands and forests, coastal forests and heaths,[1] tussock grasslands and shrublands.[2] It generally stays away from wet areas, like rainforests.[7] They shelter under rocks and fallen timber, in ant or termite nests,[5] under wood piles, leaves, old sheets of iron, in crevices[7] and abandoned burrows.[2]
Geographic range
The red-naped snake is in four Australian states of Australia; Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and also the Northern Territory.[3] It is found in arid to humid parts, from Port Augusta in South Australia to Cairns in northern Queensland.[7] Some areas in which they have been sighted include the Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site in South Australia;[8] Woomargama National Park and Mullengandra in NSW Murray Catchment;[5] in the Lower Murray darling basin, NSW;[9] around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; the Museum of Victoria notes this species is in the far north-west of the state, in riverine areas;[10] 18 National Parks in Queensland.[7]
Diet
Furina diadema prey upon little skinks.[1]
Reproduction
The red-naped snake is oviparous,[5] Records for clutch sizes vary: 2–5,[6] 1–10,[2] 3–6,[11] 1–5, 8 and an average of 3.[1] In subtropical regions red-naped snakes have more than one clutch in a year.[2] They hatch out of their eggs in January, unless in a cooler region, where they hatch in February.[2] The recorded lengths for snakes when they are first born vary, 12 cm (4.7 in)[2] and 15 cm (5.9 in).[6] They become adults within a year.[2]
Behaviour
The red-naped snake are a nocturnal species.[5] Sometimes they share their space with each other.[6] Both venom and constriction is used to kill prey.[2] They eat more in the warmer times of the year and hunt for food in restricted places such as burrows and fissures.[2]
Similar species
The red-naped snake is similar in appearance to the juvenile eastern brown snake. The eastern brown snake has a lighter band between its dark head and the neck.[5] These two snakes can be differentiated by their behaviour, as the eastern brown snake is out during the day, while the red-naped snake is nocturnal and not often seen unless its retreat has been disturbed.[5]
Conservation status
Furina diadema are listed as 'Threatened' in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.[4]
Origin
Evidence suggests that there was a migration of Asian elapid snakes into Australia many years ago and they evolved into different genera over time, including the Furina species Furina diadema.[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 H., Cogger (2014). Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 895. http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6501.htm
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Cronin, Leonard (2001). Australian Reptiles and Amphibians. Jon Carpenter Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85881-186-7. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0-85881-186-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Furina diadema | The Reptile Database". http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Furina&species=diadema&search_param=%28%28search%3D%27Red-naped+snake%27%29%29. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Department of Environment & Primary Industries Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Threatened List May 2014". http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/260884/201405-FFG-threatened-list.pdf. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Michael, Damian; Lindenmayer, David (2010). Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment: A Guide to Their Identification, Ecology and Conservation. Csiro Publishing. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0-643-10189-6. http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6255.htm.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Swan, G (1990). A field guide to the snakes and lizards of New South Wales. pp. 186.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Red-naped snake (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection)". 10 February 2004. https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals-az/rednaped_snake.html. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ↑ "Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention in Australia – a showcase of Australian Ramsar sites". Department of the Environment. http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/45e00b9f-8249-4455-96d1-85df9816c6d9/files/wa24-ramsar-convention.pdf. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ↑ "Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions - Species List". Department of the Environment. http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/7bd5254f-ea43-44aa-873f-c182613ef398/files/species-nsw-lower-murray-darling.pdf. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ↑ "Red-naped Snake: Museum Victoria". http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/snakes-found-in-victoria/red-naped-snake/. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Shine, Richard (January 1994). Australian Snakes: A Natural History. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-8261-5. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0-8014-8261-5.
Wikidata ☰ Q3091045 entry
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