''Cryptophis boschmai'', also known
commonly as the Carpentaria snake or the Carpentaria whip snake, is a
species of
venomous snake in the
family Elapidae. The species is native to
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 ...
and
New Guinea.
Etymology
The
specific epithet
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 ...
''boschmai'' honours Dutch zoologist
Hilbrand Boschma.
[ Beolens B, Watkins M, ]Grayson M
Grayson may refer to:
Places Canada
* Grayson, Saskatchewan
* Rural Municipality of Grayson No. 184, Saskatchewan
United States
* Grayson, California
* Grayson, Georgia
** Grayson High School
* Grayson, Kentucky
* Grayson, Louisiana
* Gray ...
(2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Rhinoplocephalus boschmai'', p. 32).
Description
The colouration of ''C. boschmai'' is tan to dark brown on the upper body, with a pale belly. It grows to a total length (including tail) of about .
Behaviour
''C. boschmai'' is
terrestrial and
nocturnal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...
, sheltering during the day under bark, logs, and leaf litter.
[
]
Diet
''C. boschmai'' preys upon small lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
s.[
]
Reproduction
The species ''C. boschmai'' is viviparous, with an average litter size of eight.
Geographic range and habitat
The distribution of ''C. boschmai'' in Australia extends from the northern part of the Cape York Peninsula, covering eastern Queensland as far south as the border with New South Wales, where it inhabits dry forests, woodlands,shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...
, and grasslands.[ The type locality is Merauke in southern New Guinea.][ www.reptile-database.org.]
References
Further reading
* Brongersma LD, Knaap-van Meeuven MS (1964). "On a new species of ''Denisonia'' (Reptilia, Serpentes) from New Guinea". ''Zoologische Mededelingen'' 39: 550–554. (''Denisonia boschmai'', new species).
* Cogger HG (2014). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition''. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. . (''Cryptophis boschmai'', p. 873).
* Escoriza Boj D (2005). "Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Part 1: Rainforest". ''Reptilia (Great Britain)'' (40): 70–75. (''Cryptophis boschmai'', new combination).
* Mengden GA (1983). "The taxonomy of Australian elapid snakes: a review". ''Records of the Australian Museum'' 35 (5): 195–222. (''Unechis boschmai'', new combination, p. 216).
* Shine R (1994). "Sexual Size Dimorphism in Snakes Revisited". ''Copeia'' 1994 (2): 326–346. (''Suta boschmai'', new combination).
* Wilson SK, Knowles DG (1988). ''Australia's Reptiles: A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia''. Sydney: William Collins. 447 pp. . (''Rhinoplocephalus boschmai'', new combination).
* Wilson S, Swan G (2013). ''A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition''. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. .
boschmai
Snakes of Australia
Snakes of New Guinea
Reptiles of Queensland
Taxa named by Leo Brongersma
Reptiles described in 1964
{{Elapidae-stub