Hemiaspis signata

Hemiaspis signata (common names: black-bellied swamp snake[4] and marsh snake[5]) is a species of venomous elapid snake endemic to Australia, where it is found along the east coast.[6]

Hemiaspis signata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Hemiaspis
Species:
H. signata
Binomial name
Hemiaspis signata
(Jan, 1859) [2]
Synonyms
  • Alecto signata Jan, 1859
  • Denisonia signata
    — Boulenger, 1896
  • Drepanodontis signata
    — Rankin, 1972
  • Hemiaspis signata
    — Cogger, 1983 [3]

Recognisable by two distinctive narrow white lines on the face, the colour can range from pale olive to black top with a dark grey to black belly. Adults can grow to 70 cm in length, but most specimens are smaller than this. Their diet consists mainly of skinks and frogs.[5]

It was first described in 1859 by Giorgio Jan as Alecto signata.[7][8]

References
  1. Shea, G.; Venz, M.; Wilson, S.; Hobson, R.; Vanderduys, E. (2018). "Hemiaspis signata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T102709942A102710051. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102709942A102710051.en. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  2. "Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  3. "Hemiaspis signata The Reptile Database". www.reptile-database.org.
  4. Isbister, GK; Dawson, AH; Whyte, IM (March 2002). "Two cases of bites by the black-bellied swamp snake (Hemiaspis signata)". Toxicon. 40 (3): 317–9. doi:10.1016/s0041-0101(01)00221-5. PMID 11711130.
  5. "Whip Snakes and Marsh Snakes Fact Sheet" (PDF). Queensland Museum. 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  6. "Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859) - Black-bellied Swamp Snake". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  7. "Australian Faunal Directory: Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859)". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  8. Giorgio Jan (1859). "Plan d'une iconographie descriptive des ophidiens et description sommaire de nouvelles espèces de serpents". Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée (in French). 11: 122-130 [128]. ISSN 1259-6523. Wikidata Q108828733.

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. (Denisonia signata, pp. 338–339).
  • Jan G, Sordelli F. 1873. Iconographie générale des Ophidiens, Quarante-troisième livraison. Paris: Baillière. Index + Plates I-VI. (Alecto signata, Plate VI, figure 5). (in French).
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