''Brachyurophis approximans'', also known as the north-western shovel-nosed snake, is a species of

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 ...

ous burrowing snake that is

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 els ...

to Australia. 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 ...

''approximans'' (“approaching”) alludes to its similarity to ''

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 ...

''.

Description

The species grows to about 30 cm in length. There are some 50–80 dark brown bands along the body, much broader than the pale bands separating them. The belly is whitish.

Behaviour

The species is

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), a ...

, with a clutch size of three. It feeds on reptile eggs.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the arid

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a gl ...

and adjacent areas of north-west

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 ...

, in stony soils vegetated with ''

Acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus n ...

''. The

type locality Type locality may refer to: * Type locality (biology) * Type locality (geology) See also * Local (disambiguation) * Locality (disambiguation) {{disambiguation ...

Muccan Station Muccan or Muccan Station is a pastoral lease and cattle station that once operated as a sheep station, located approximately north east of Marble Bar and south east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Kookenyia C ...

in the Pilbara.

References

approximans Snakes of Australia Endemic fauna of Australia Reptiles of Western Australia Taxa named by Ludwig Glauert Reptiles described in 1954 {{Elapidae-stub