''Brachyurophis'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
elapid snake
Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...
s known as shovel-nosed snakes, so named because of their shovel-nosed snout which is used to burrow. The genus has eight recognized
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
, which are all found in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
["''Brachyurophis'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.]
Species
*''
Brachyurophis approximans
''Brachyurophis approximans'', also known as the north-western shovel-nosed snake, is a species of venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet ''approximans'' (“approaching”) alludes to its similarity to ''Bra ...
'' – North-western shovel-nosed snake
*''
Brachyurophis australis
''Brachyurophis australis'' (coral snake) is a species of snake from the family Elapidae (common names - eastern shovel-nosed snake, coral snake, Australian coral snake) and is a species endemic to Australia. Its common name reflects its shov ...
'' – (Australian) coral snake, Eastern shovel-nosed snake
*''
Brachyurophis campbelli
''Brachyurophis campbelli'', also known as the Cape York shovel-nosed snake or Einasliegh shovel-nosed snake, is a species of venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet ''campbelli'' honours a Mr W.D. Campbell wh ...
'' – Cape York shovel-nosed snake
*''
Brachyurophis fasciolatus
''Brachyurophis fasciolatus'' is a species of snake from the family Elapidae, commonly named the narrow-banded shovel-nosed snake, or narrow-banded burrowing snake, and is a species endemic to Australia. Its common names reflect its shovel nose s ...
'' – Narrow-banded shovel-nosed snake
*''
Brachyurophis incinctus
''Brachyurophis incinctus'' is a species of snake from the family Elapidae, commonly named the unbanded shovel-nosed snake, and is a species endemic to Australia. Its common name reflects its shovel nose specialisation, burrowing behaviour and ...
'' – Unbanded shovel-nosed snake
*''
Brachyurophis morrisi
''Brachyurophis morrisi'', also known as the Arnhem shovel-nosed snake, is a species of venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet ''morrisi'' honours author and naturalist Ian James Morris for his contributions ...
'' –
Arnhem shovel-nosed snake
*''
Brachyurophis roperi
''Brachyurophis roperi'', also known as the northern shovel-nosed snake, is a species of venomous burrowing snake that is endemic to Australia. The specific epithet ''roperi'' refers to the type locality of the Roper River Mission in the North ...
'' – Northern shovel-nosed snake
*''
Brachyurophis semifasciatus
The southern shovel-nosed snake (''Brachyurophis semifasciatus'') is a species of snake native to southern Australia.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3484673
Snakes of Australia
semifasciatus
Taxa named by Albert Günther ...
'' – Southern shovel-nosed snake
The above species are sometimes included in the genus ''
Simoselaps
''Simoselaps'', or Australian coral snakes, is a genus composed of 12 species of venomous elapid snakes.
Geographic range
Species of the genus ''Simoselaps'' are found throughout Australia.
Description
Australian coral snakes are small snakes. ...
'', ''
sensu lato''.
''
Nota bene
(, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well".
It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature
and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...
'': A
binomial authority
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Brachyurophis''.
Geographic distribution
* ''B. approximans'' -
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
North West Coastal and Western Plateau.
* ''B. australis'' -
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
,
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
and
Victoria.
* ''B. fasciolatus'' -
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
,
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
,
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
and
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
.
* ''B. incinctus'' -
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
and
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
.
* ''B. morrisi'' -
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
North Coast.
* ''B. roperi'' -
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
and
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
North Coast.
* ''B. semifasciata'' -
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
,
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
and
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
.
References
Further reading
*
Günther A (1863). "On new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". ''Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Third Series'' 11: 20–25. (''Brachyurophis'', new genus, p. 21).
External links
Australian Faunal Directory
Snake genera
Taxa named by Albert Günther
Snakes of Australia
{{Elapidae-stub