Hoplocephalus stephensii

Hoplocephalus stephensii is a species of highly venomous tree snake in the family Elapidae. Its common name is Stephens' Banded Snake.[2] The species is endemic to Australia.

Hoplocephalus stephensii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Hoplocephalus
Species:
H. stephensii
Binomial name
Hoplocephalus stephensii
Krefft, 1869

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of H. stephensii is forest,[1] where it resides within hollowed trees. More specifically the dense tropical forests, to allow them to have preferable thermal conditions.[3]

Etymology

The specific name stephensii, is in honor of Australian academic William John Stephens.[4]

Geographic range

H. stephensii is found along the east coast of Australia between southern Queensland and Sydney.[5][2]

Stephens' Banded Snake on roadside.

Description

This species is a medium sized, dark grey snake with black "bands" all along its body. Laterally, the ventrals of H. stephensii are strongly angulate and notched.[6] These notched "keels" are used in climbing trees. They are very infrequent eaters and thus are smaller form most other elapids. Their venom is a blood thinner strong enough to kill a human if

medical attention is not provided soon after the bite. [7]

Reproduction

H. stephensii is viviparous.[8]

References
  1. Shine R, Shea G, Greenlees M, Cogger H (2018). "Hoplocephalus stephensii ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T177574A83768293. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T177574A83768293.en. Downloded on 16 June 2020.
  2. "Stephens' Banded Snake profile". NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  3. Fitzgerald, Mark; Shine, Richard; Lemckert, Francis; Towerton, Alison (2005). "Habitat requirements of the threatened snake species Hoplocephalus stephensii (Elapidae) in eastern Australia". Austral Ecology. 30 (4): 465–474. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01489.x.
  4. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Hoplocephalus stephensii, p. 253).
  5. "Stephens' Banded Snake". Queensland Museum. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  6. Boulenger (1896).
  7. Waite ER (1905). "Climbing Habits of an Australian Snake". Records of the Australian Museum 6 (1): 38.
  8. Species Hoplocephalus stephensii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Hoplocephalus stephensii, p. 350).
  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350. (Hoplocephalus stephensii, p. 902).
  • Krefft G (1869). The Snakes of Australia; an Illustrative and Descriptive Catalogue of All the Known Species. Sydney: Thomas Richards, Government Printer. xxv + 100 pp. + Plates I-XII. (Hoplocephalus stephensii, new species, pp. 58–59 + Plate VI, figure 7).
  • Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.


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