''Vermicella'' 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 ...
of
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, commonly known as bandy-bandies or hoop snakes. The best known species is the
bandy-bandy
The bandy-bandy (''Vermicella annulata''), also commonly known as the hoop snake, is a species of venomous snake in the Family (biology), family Elapidae. The word bandy-bandy (bandi-bandi) traces back to the indigenous dialect of Worimi languag ...
(''V. annulata'').
Species
Six
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 ...
are recognized as being valid. In mid 2018 a new species of bandy-bandy was discovered in Australia, visually nearly identical to ''Vermicella annulata''. The species named ''
Vermicella parscauda'' is considerably more venomous, with a toxin that is comparable to that of the
red-bellied black snake (''Pseudechis porphyriacus'').
*''
Vermicella annulata
The bandy-bandy (''Vermicella annulata''), also commonly known as the hoop snake, is a species of venomous snake in the Family (biology), family Elapidae. The word bandy-bandy (bandi-bandi) traces back to the indigenous dialect of Worimi languag ...
'' – bandy-bandy
# One species of Vermicella is the Bandy-Bandy commonly found in Australia. This snake is highly venomous and relatively small sizing between 50 and 100 cm. Bandy-Bandy's use there banded black and white pattern to repel predators by moving rapidly causing a flicker visual allusion.
*''
Vermicella intermedia'' – intermediate bandy-bandy
*''
Vermicella multifasciata'' – northern bandy-bandy
*''
Vermicella snelli'' –
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 glo ...
bandy-bandy
*''
Vermicella vermiformis'' – Centralian bandy-bandy
*''
Vermicella parscauda'' – Weipa bandy-bandy.
''
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 ''Vermicella''.
References
Further reading
*
Gray JE (1858). ''In'':
Günther A (1858). ''Catalogue of the Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum''. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xvi + 281 pp. (''Vermicella'', new genus, p. 236).
External links
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Snake genera
Taxa named by John Edward Gray
Snakes of Australia
{{Elapidae-stub