Hemiaspis damelii is a species of venomous snake in the familyElapidae. It is a relatively small species of elapid with a mean snout-vent length (SVL) of 42.6 to 60 cm (16.8 to 23.6 in).[5] The species is endemic to eastern Australia and is most commonly found across central inland New South Wales through to the interior of south-eastern Queensland.[5][6][7]Common names for this species include ngabi, grey snake and Dämel's Snake. The specific name, damelii, is in honor of German entomologistEdward Dämel, who collected Australian specimens for Museum Godeffroy.[8]
H. damelii is a relatively small snake with an average snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 50 centimetres (20 inches).[6] Minor size differences occur between sexes, with the males averaging a slightly larger size than females.[9] It is olive to grey dorsally, and white to yellowish white ventrally, often flecked with dark grey.[9][5][7] In some grey snakes, each scale may be tipped with black anteriorly, particularly on the flanks.[7]
It has smooth dorsal scales which are in 17 rows at mid-body, 140-170 ventral scales, and 35-50 subcaudals which are single (undivided).[7] This species also has a paired (divided) anal scale.[7]Juvenile grey snakes have a distinctive black head which fades or sometimes completely disappears as the snake matures, occurring from the top of the head to the second scale row behind the parietals.[7]
Distribution and habitatedit
The distribution and ecology of H. damelii is poorly known.[5] Existing records of the grey snake are most commonly found in south-eastern Queensland and north-central New South Wales, however small populations have also been found to occur in north-eastern South Australia and south-western New South Wales.[5] It tends to favour dry sclerophyllforests and woodlands on clay soils where water bodies or gullies are present. It shelters under rocks, logs and other debris, as well as in cracks in soil.[10]
Reproduction and life cycleedit
The breeding period for H. damelii occurs from January to March. During Spring (September-October) adult females' ovarian follicles increase in size following ovulation in preparation of the breeding season.[9]H. damelii has a relatively high fecundity, partly due to its large maternal snout-vent length (SVL), which has been found to significantly correlate with litter size.[10] Litter size can range from 4-16 live young which are born fully formed[10] (viviparous). The newborns take an average of 12 months to mature after birth.[10]
Dietedit
The diet of H. damelii consists predominately of terrestrialanurans.[9] It has also been found to consume some scincid lizards, however this is quite rare.[9]
Behaviouredit
H. damelii is active during the night, beginning to move around sunset and remaining active for 1-2 hours after, using this time to hunt and feed.[9]
Venom and symptomsedit
The venom of H. damelii is fairly mild and is unlikely to cause fatalities in humans; however, a bite from a larger specimen may be very painful.[7] The venom contains procoagulants and causes local pain and swelling.[11]
Conservation status and threatsedit
In Queensland, H. damelii is listed as an endangered species under the Nature Conservation Act, 1992.[5] It is also listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to population decline.[5] The key processes threatening H. damelii include the impacts of feral animals such as cats and foxes via predation, cane toads through ingestion and feral pigs through habitat destruction and competition for food resources.[10] Increasing pasture improvement and cultivation are also destroying habitat through the disruption of soil structure in cracking clay soils.[10] Changes to waterways and the hydrological cycle are also impacting grey snakes which rely on these floodplains and water sources.[10]
Recent floods in NSW have helped researchers find 30 individual snakes. The venomous snake has only been seen a handful of times in the past 65 years. [12]
Referencesedit
^Vanderduys, E.; Wilson, S.; Hobson, R.; Venz, M.; Sanderson, C. (2017). "Hemiaspis damelii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T102709908A102709925. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T102709908A102709925.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^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 dæmelii, p. 339 + Plate XVIII, figure 3).
^Species Hemiaspis damelii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
^ abcdefgMichael, Damian R.; Bourke, Gaye; Paris, Dena; Wassens, Skye (2020). "A range extension for the endangered Grey Snake Hemiaspis damelii (Günther 1876) in the Murrumbidgee catchment, southern NSW". Australian Zoologist. 40 (4): 652–655. doi:10.7882/AZ.2020.008. S2CID 212865650 – via Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abAustralian Reptile Online Database (2019). "Grey snake Hemiaspis damelii ". Australian Reptile Online Database (AROD). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
^ abcdefgCogger, Harold (March 2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (7 ed.). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO. pp. 1385–1386. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Hemiaspis damelii, p. 64).
^ abcdefShine, Richard (March 1987). "Food habits and reproductive biology of Australian snakes of the genus Hemiaspis (Elapidae)". Journal of Herpetology. 21 (1): 71–74. doi:10.2307/1564381. JSTOR 1564381. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
^ abcdefg"Grey snake". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
^"Hemiaspis damelii ". Clinical Toxinology Resources. The University of Adelaide. www.toxinology.com.
^"Night research helps scale up estimates of grey snake population in NSW floodplains". ABC. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
Further readingedit
Günther A (1876). "Descriptions of new species of Reptiles from Australia collected by Hr. Dämel for the Godeffroy Museum". Journal des Museum Godeffroy5: 45-47. (Hoplocephalus damelii, new species, p. 46).
Wilson S, Swan G (2013) A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN978-1921517280.
January 01, 1970
hemiaspis, damelii, species, venomous, snake, family, elapidae, relatively, small, species, elapid, with, mean, snout, vent, length, species, endemic, eastern, australia, most, commonly, found, across, central, inland, south, wales, through, interior, south, e. Hemiaspis damelii is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae It is a relatively small species of elapid with a mean snout vent length SVL of 42 6 to 60 cm 16 8 to 23 6 in 5 The species is endemic to eastern Australia and is most commonly found across central inland New South Wales through to the interior of south eastern Queensland 5 6 7 Common names for this species include ngabi grey snake and Damel s Snake The specific name damelii is in honor of German entomologist Edward Damel who collected Australian specimens for Museum Godeffroy 8 Hemiaspis damelii Conservation status Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Elapidae Genus Hemiaspis Species H damelii Binomial name Hemiaspis damelii Gunther 1876 2 Synonyms 3 4 Hoplocephalus damelii Gunther 1876 Denisonia daemelii Boulenger 1896 Drepanodontis daemelii Worrell 1961 Hemiaspis damelii Cogger 1983 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Reproduction and life cycle 4 Diet 5 Behaviour 6 Venom and symptoms 7 Conservation status and threats 8 References 9 Further readingDescription editH damelii is a relatively small snake with an average snout to vent length SVL of 50 centimetres 20 inches 6 Minor size differences occur between sexes with the males averaging a slightly larger size than females 9 It is olive to grey dorsally and white to yellowish white ventrally often flecked with dark grey 9 5 7 In some grey snakes each scale may be tipped with black anteriorly particularly on the flanks 7 It has smooth dorsal scales which are in 17 rows at mid body 140 170 ventral scales and 35 50 subcaudals which are single undivided 7 This species also has a paired divided anal scale 7 Juvenile grey snakes have a distinctive black head which fades or sometimes completely disappears as the snake matures occurring from the top of the head to the second scale row behind the parietals 7 Distribution and habitat editThe distribution and ecology of H damelii is poorly known 5 Existing records of the grey snake are most commonly found in south eastern Queensland and north central New South Wales however small populations have also been found to occur in north eastern South Australia and south western New South Wales 5 It tends to favour dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands on clay soils where water bodies or gullies are present It shelters under rocks logs and other debris as well as in cracks in soil 10 Reproduction and life cycle editThe breeding period for H damelii occurs from January to March During Spring September October adult females ovarian follicles increase in size following ovulation in preparation of the breeding season 9 H damelii has a relatively high fecundity partly due to its large maternal snout vent length SVL which has been found to significantly correlate with litter size 10 Litter size can range from 4 16 live young which are born fully formed 10 viviparous The newborns take an average of 12 months to mature after birth 10 Diet editThe diet of H damelii consists predominately of terrestrial anurans 9 It has also been found to consume some scincid lizards however this is quite rare 9 Behaviour editH damelii is active during the night beginning to move around sunset and remaining active for 1 2 hours after using this time to hunt and feed 9 Venom and symptoms editThe venom of H damelii is fairly mild and is unlikely to cause fatalities in humans however a bite from a larger specimen may be very painful 7 The venom contains procoagulants and causes local pain and swelling 11 Conservation status and threats editIn Queensland H damelii is listed as an endangered species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 5 It is also listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to population decline 5 The key processes threatening H damelii include the impacts of feral animals such as cats and foxes via predation cane toads through ingestion and feral pigs through habitat destruction and competition for food resources 10 Increasing pasture improvement and cultivation are also destroying habitat through the disruption of soil structure in cracking clay soils 10 Changes to waterways and the hydrological cycle are also impacting grey snakes which rely on these floodplains and water sources 10 Recent floods in NSW have helped researchers find 30 individual snakes The venomous snake has only been seen a handful of times in the past 65 years 12 References edit Vanderduys E Wilson S Hobson R Venz M Sanderson C 2017 Hemiaspis damelii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T102709908A102709925 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T102709908A102709925 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Hemiaspis damelii Gunther 1876 Grey Snake Atlas of Living Australia Retrieved 2 August 2014 Boulenger GA 1896 Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum Natural History Volume III Containing the Colubridae Opisthoglyphae and Proteroglyphae London Trustees of the British Museum Natural History Taylor and Francis printers xiv 727 pp Plates I XXV Denisonia daemelii p 339 Plate XVIII figure 3 Species Hemiaspis damelii at The Reptile Database www reptile database org a b c d e f g Michael Damian R Bourke Gaye Paris Dena Wassens Skye 2020 A range extension for the endangered Grey Snake Hemiaspis damelii Gunther 1876 in the Murrumbidgee catchment southern NSW Australian Zoologist 40 4 652 655 doi 10 7882 AZ 2020 008 S2CID 212865650 via Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b Australian Reptile Online Database 2019 Grey snake Hemiaspis damelii Australian Reptile Online Database AROD Retrieved 25 October 2020 a b c d e f g Cogger Harold March 2014 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia 7 ed Collingwood Victoria CSIRO pp 1385 1386 Retrieved 22 October 2020 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 Hemiaspis damelii p 64 a b c d e f Shine Richard March 1987 Food habits and reproductive biology of Australian snakes of the genus Hemiaspis Elapidae Journal of Herpetology 21 1 71 74 doi 10 2307 1564381 JSTOR 1564381 Retrieved 22 October 2020 a b c d e f g Grey snake Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science 2019 Retrieved 25 October 2020 Hemiaspis damelii Clinical Toxinology Resources The University of Adelaide www toxinology com Night research helps scale up estimates of grey snake population in NSW floodplains ABC Retrieved 2022 04 09 Further reading editGunther A 1876 Descriptions of new species of Reptiles from Australia collected by Hr Damel for the Godeffroy Museum Journal des Museum Godeffroy 5 45 47 Hoplocephalus damelii new species p 46 Wilson S Swan G 2013 A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia Fourth Edition Sydney New Holland Publishers 522 pp ISBN 978 1921517280 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hemiaspis damelii amp oldid 1188873313, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
