''Brachyurophis incinctus'' is a species of

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 ...

from the family

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 ...

, commonly named the unbanded shovel-nosed snake, and is a species endemic 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 ...

. Its common name reflects its shovel nose specialisation, burrowing behaviour and the fact that it is not banded on its body.

Description

The unbanded shovel-nosed snake is an oviparous, venomous, and small (< 400mm) burrowing snake, which is not banded on its body.

Taxonomy

''Brachyurophis incinctus'' is one of eight currently recognised species within the genus ''Brachyurophis''. It was first described by

Glen Milton Storr Dr. Glen Milton Storr (22 December 1921 – 26 June 1990) was an Australian ornithologist and Herpetology, herpetologist. He joined the Western Australian Museum in 1962 and became Curator of Ornithology and Herpetology in 1965. He was a member ...

in 1968 as ''Vermicella semifasciata'' subsp. ''incincta''.

Distribution & habitat

''Brachyurophis incinctus'' is found in central Australia (in the

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 in western

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_ ...

, in grasslands, shrublands and deserts.

Conservation status

The conservation status of ''B. incinctus'' is assessed by the Queensland Government as being of "Least Concern" and is similarly assessed by the IUCN, with the comment that it is "unlikely that any major threat is impacting this species".

References

External links

''Brachyurophis incinctus'' occurrence data
from

Atlas of Living Australia The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is an online repository of information about Australian plants, animals, and fungi. Development started in 2006. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an organisation sign ...

''Brachyurophis incinctus'': images from Inaturalist
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3484667 Snakes of Australia incinctus Taxa named by Glen Milton Storr