Brachyurophis roperi, also known as the northern shovel-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet roperi refers to the type locality of the Roper River Mission in the Northern Territory. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Brachyurophis semifasciatus.[2]
| Brachyurophis roperi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Brachyurophis |
| Species: | B. roperi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyurophis roperi (Kinghorn, 1931)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
editThe species grows to an average of about 37 centimetres or 15 inches in length. There are dark brown to black bands along the length of the orange to reddish-brown upper body. The belly is whitish.[2]
Behaviour
editThe species is oviparous with a clutch size of three. It feeds on reptile eggs.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThe species' range extends from Broome in Western Australia, eastwards through the Kimberley region, the Top End of the Northern Territory as far south as Ti-Tree, to Camooweal in western Queensland. It occurs in sandy soils as well as in heavy soils and rocky ranges.[2]
References
edit- ^ Shea, G.; Ellis, R. (2017). "Brachyurophis roperi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T102706227A102706250. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T102706227A102706250.en. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Northern shovel-nosed snake". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
 | This Elapidae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |