''Demansia'' 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 ...

venomous snake Venomous snakes are Species (biology), species of the Suborder (biology), suborder Snake, Serpentes that are capable of producing Snake venom, venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The v ...

s of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydoceph ...

. Members of the genus are commonly known as whip snakes or whipsnakes, as are members of several other

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

Description

All

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 ...

of the genus ''Demansia'' are gray, brown, gray-green, or beige, save for ''

Demansia psammophis The yellow-faced whip snake (''Demansia psammophis'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae, a family containing many dangerous snakes. ''D. psammophis'' is endemic to Australia, found throughout the continent in a variety of hab ...

'' (yellow-faced whip snake), which may be cream-coloured. Whip snakes are long and slender. They have large eyes and relatively small heads that are only slightly wider than their bodies. All species in the genus ''Demansia'' are

venomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

Distribution

Whip snakes of the genus ''Demansia'' are 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 ...

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

in the area around

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...

, and nearby islands.

Diet

''Demansia'' whip snakes eat mainly lizards. These whipsnakes are diurnal (active in the day), and use their keen eyesight to hunt. The prey dies quickly from the effects of the snake's

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

Interaction with humans

In 2007 a man died after being bitten by a whip snake in Victoria. Their bites are generally regarded as akin to a bee sting and relatively harmless, but the man became woozy and went into cardiac arrest before paramedics arrived.

Species

The following 14 species are recognized as being valid.. www.reptile-database.org. *''

Demansia angusticeps The narrow-headed whipsnake (''Demansia angusticeps'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permane ...

'' - narrow-headed whipsnake *''

Demansia calodera The black-necked whipsnake (''Demansia calodera'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. It is endemic to Western Australia. It can reach in snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in ...

'' - black-necked whipsnake *''

Demansia flagellatio The long-tailed whip snake (''Demansia flagellatio''), also known as the Carpentarian whipsnake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family ...

'' - long-tailed whipsnake *''

Demansia olivacea The olive whipsnake (''Demansia olivacea'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect ...

'' - olive whipsnake *''

Demansia papuensis The greater black whipsnake (''Demansia papuensis'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. Description ''D. papuensis'' has a constant light to dark brown or black colouration, and a tan coloured head with small dark spots. The ...

'' - greater black whipsnake *''

'' - yellow-faced whipsnake *''

Demansia quaesitor The sombre whip snake (''Demansia quaesitor'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently ere ...

'' - sombre whipsnake *''

Demansia reticulata The reticulated whip snake (''Demansia reticulata'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanent ...

'' - reticulated whipsnake *''

Demansia rimicola The soil-crack whip snake or crack-dwelling whipsnake (''Demansia rimicola'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. It is only mildly venomous. Description The soil-crack whipsnake is front fanged and average about 49 cm in ...

'' - soil-crack whipsnake *''

Demansia rufescens The rufous whip snake (''Demansia rufescens'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently ere ...

'' - rufous whip snake *''

Demansia shinei Shine's whipsnake (''Demansia shinei'') also known commonly as Shine's Australian whipsnake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Etymology The specific name, ''shinei'', is in honour of A ...

'' - Shine's whipsnake *''

Demansia simplex The grey whipsnake (''Demansia simplex'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fa ...

'' - grey whipsnake *'' Demansia torquata'' - collared whipsnake *'' Demansia vestigiata'' - lesser black whipsnake ''

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 ''Demansia''.

Description

Distribution

Diet

Interaction with humans

Species

See also

References

Further reading