Red-naped snake

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]

Red-naped snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Furina
Species:	F. diadema
Binomial name
Furina diadema Schlegel, 1937[1]
Synonyms
Calamaria diadema Schlegel 1837 Rabdion occipitale Girard 1825 Brachysoma diadema Günther 1863 Pseudelaps diadema Jan 1863 Cacophis blackmanii Krefft 1869 Denisonia bancrofti De Vis 1911 Pseudelaps diadema Boulenger 1896 Brachysoma diadema Worrel 1963 Aspidomorphus diadema Minton 1970 Furina diadema Cogger 1983 Furina diadema Welch 1994 Furina diadema Cogger 2000 Furina diadema Wilson & Swan 2010

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, though, with a closed mouth.[1] They can bite, however, 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 eastern Australia; Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia.[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] 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. H., Cogger (2014). Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. p. 895. http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6501.htm
2. Cronin, Leonard (2001). Australian Reptiles and Amphibians. Jon Carpenter Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85881-186-7.
3. "Furina diadema | The Reptile Database". reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
4. "Department of Environment & Primary Industries Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Threatened List May 2014" (PDF). depi.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
5. Michael, Damian; Lindenmayer, David (2010). Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment: A Guide to Their Identification, Ecology and Conservation. Csiro Publishing. http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6255.htm.
6. Swan, G (1990). A field guide to the snakes and lizards of New South Wales. p. 186.
7. "Red-naped snake (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection)". ehp.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
8. "Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention in Australia – a showcase of Australian Ramsar sites" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
9. "Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions - Species List" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
10. "Red-naped Snake: Museum Victoria". museumvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
11. Shine, Richard (January 1994). Australian Snakes: A Natural History. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-8261-5.