Rough-scaled death adder

The rough-scaled death adder (Acanthophis rugosus) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae.[3]

Rough-scaled death adder
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Acanthophis
Species:
A. rugosus
Binomial name
Acanthophis rugosus

Habitat

They are native to northern Australia, particularly Arnhem Land. Rough-scaled death adders are native to deserts.[4]

Diet

Death adders are generalists that feed upon small mammals, birds, lizards, and frogs. It is likely that allometric (size-related) shifts occur, with smaller specimens feeding more upon lizards and frogs and larger specimens including more mammals in their diets. Regional and interspecific differences in diet may also occur, although these are poorly documented. Like other species in the Elapidae family, they are ground hunters, and can wait for days and days in grass for food.[4]

Description

Body slender to stout, unicolour or with a patterning of crossbands, with smooth or keeled scales in 19-23 rows at midbody, head angular with elevated supraocular scales, 6-7 supralabials with temporolabial scale present, eyes small with vertically elliptical pupils, tail slender, extremely distinct from the body, terminating in a flattened spinous tip which may be black or yellow and contrasts with the dorsal body colouration.[4]

References
  1. Tallowin, O.; Parker, F.; O'Shea, M.; Woinarski, J.; Gillespie, G.; Greenlees, M.; Cogger, H.; McDonald, P.; Fenner, A. (2018). "Acanthophis rugosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T177483A21648923. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T177483A21648923.en. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. Loveridge, Arthur. 1948. New Guinean reptiles and amphibians in the Museum of Comparative Zoology and United States National Museum. Bulletin of the Museum of Zoology. Harvard University, 101 (2): 305-430.
  3. Acanthophis rugosus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 17 February 2016.
  4. "Death Adders, Acanthophis Daudin, 1803". The University of Melbourne. The University of Melmore. 2 May 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
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