''Drysdalia'' is a

genus 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 nom ...

snake Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...

s, commonly known as crowned snakes, belonging to the

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

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 Emydoce ...

. The three

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 ...

in this genus are

venomous snake Venomous snakes are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow or g ...

s, but not considered deadly.

Geographic range

Species of the

''Drysdalia'' are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to parts of southern and eastern Australia.

Species

Three species are recognized as being valid. *'' Drysdalia coronoides'' – white-lipped snake *'' Drysdalia mastersii'' – Masters' snake *'' Drysdalia rhodogaster'' – mustard-bellied snake

Etymology

The generic name, ''Drysdalia'', is in honour of Australian artist George Russell Drysdale. The specific name, ''mastersii'', is in honour English-born Australian

zoologist Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and d ...

George Masters.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Drysdalia mastersii'', p. 171).

Taxonomy

The species formerly known as ''Drysdalia coronata'' , commonly known as the crowned snake, was assigned to the genus '' Elapognathus'' , by Keogh et al. in 2000. Its current correct scientific name is '' Elapognathus coronatus'' .

Description

Crowned snakes are small snakes, averaging about 50 cm (20 inches) in total length (including tail) but can be as small as 18 cm (7 inches). They are normally brown in colour.

Habitat

Crowned snakes inhabit woodlands, swamps, and heathland.

Diet

''Drysdalia'' feed on

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...

s and lizards.

References

External links

''Drysdalia'' in Australian Fauna Directory

* Cogger HG (2014). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition''. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. . *Keogh JS, Scott IA, Scanlon JD (2000). "Molecullar phylogeny of viviparous Australian elapid snakes: affinities of ''Echiopus atriceps'' (Storr, 1980) and ''Drysdalia coronata'' (Schlegel, 1837) with description of a new genus". ''Journal of Zoology'' 252: 317–326. ("''Elapognathus coronata'' ic,_''ex_errore''.html"_;"title="ex_errore.html"_;"title="ic,_''ex_errore">ic,_''ex_errore''">ex_errore.html"_;"title="ic,_''ex_errore">ic,_''ex_errore'',_new_combination). *Swan,_Gerry_(1995)._''A_Photographic_Guide_to_Snakes_and_other_Reptiles_of_Australia''._Sydney:_New_Holland._144_pp._ *Wilson,_Steve;_Swan,_Gerry_(2013)._''A_Compete_Guide_to_Reptiles_of_Australia,_Fourth_Edition''._Sydney:_New_Holland_Publishers._522_pp._. * ic,_''ex_errore''.html"_;"title="ex_errore.html"_;"title="ic,_''ex_errore">ic,_''ex_errore''">ex_errore.html"_;"title="ic,_''ex_errore">ic,_''ex_errore'',_new_combination). *Swan,_Gerry_(1995)._''A_Photographic_Guide_to_Snakes_and_other_Reptiles_of_Australia''._Sydney:_New_Holland._144_pp._ *Wilson,_Steve;_Swan,_Gerry_(2013)._''A_Compete_Guide_to_Reptiles_of_Australia,_Fourth_Edition''._Sydney:_New_Holland_Publishers._522_pp._. *Eric_Worrell">Worrell_E_(1961)._"Herpetological_Name_Changes"._''West_Australian_Naturalist''_8:_18–27._(''Drysdalia'',_new_genus). Drysdalia.html" ;"title="Eric_Worrell.html" ;"title="ex_errore">ic,_''ex_errore''.html" ;"title="ex_errore.html" ;"title="ic, ''ex errore">ic, ''ex errore''">ex_errore.html" ;"title="ic, ''ex errore">ic, ''ex errore'', new combination). *Swan, Gerry (1995). ''A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Australia''. Sydney: New Holland. 144 pp. *Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). ''A Compete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition''. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. . *Eric Worrell">Worrell E (1961). "Herpetological Name Changes". ''West Australian Naturalist'' 8: 18–27. (''Drysdalia'', new genus). Drysdalia"> Snakes of Australia Snake genera Taxa named by Eric Worrell {{Elapidae-stub