Collett's snake (''Pseudechis colletti''), also commonly known as Collett's black snake, Collett's cobra, or Down's tiger snake, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

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 ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids , from , variant of "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 '' Emydocephalus ...

. The species is native to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. Collett's snake is capable of delivering a fatal bite and is considered the nineteenth most venomous snake in the world.

Taxonomy and etymology

Collett's snake is one of several species in the

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

Pseudechis ''Pseudechis'' is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Elapidae. It contains the group of elapid species commonly referred to as the black snakes. Species of ''Pseudechis'' are found in every Australian state with the exception of Tasmania, a ...

'' commonly known as black snakes. A study of mitochondrial DNA showed it to be most closely related to the blue-bellied black snake ('' P. guttatus''), with the Papuan black snake ('' P. papuanus'') as the next closest relative to the pair. Belgian-born British zoologist

George Albert Boulenger George Albert Boulenger (19 October 1858 – 23 November 1937) was a Belgian-British zoologist who described and gave scientific names to over 2,000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Boulenger was also an active botani ...

described the species ''P. colletti'' in 1902, (''Pseudechis colletti'', new species). naming it in honour of Norwegian zoologist

Robert Collett Robert Collett (2 December 1842 – 27 January 1913) was a Norway, Norwegian zoologist. Collett was director and curator of the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, Zoological Museum at University of Oslo. Robert Collett was born at ...

. A young snake had been collected by Collett, and Boulenger had noted its scale pattern to be distinct from the Papuan black snake.

Description

The most colourful member of the black snake genus ''

'', Collett's snake has dark brown to black upperparts, with pink or cream banding and sides, and pale yellow to orange underparts. The irregular bands are usually cross-shaped and are generally an orange-red colour. The underbelly is normally the same colour as the bands, but may have varied discolourations or discoloured patches. Juveniles are usually the same colour as adults but generally have brighter shades and contrast more. It is similar in physical structure (but not appearance) to the

red-bellied black snake The red-bellied black snake (''Pseudechis porphyriacus'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae, indigenous to Australia. Originally described by George Shaw in 1794 as a species new to science, it is one of eastern Australia ...

. Collett's snake is usually between in total length (including tail). Males can reach up to in total length, while females can reach up to . At birth, it is usually in total length.

Venom

Previously thought to be only moderately venomous to people, Collett's snake is now known to have been responsible for severe envenomation, with cases proceeding to

rhabdomyolysis Rhabdomyolysis (shortened as rhabdo) is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly. Symptoms may include muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, and confusion. There may be tea-colored urine or an irregular heartbeat. Some o ...

and

acute kidney injury Acute kidney injury (AKI), previously called acute renal failure (ARF), is a sudden decrease in renal function, kidney function that develops within seven days, as shown by an increase in serum creatinine or a decrease in urine output, or both. ...

. Toxicity and symptoms of the venom resemble that of the mulga snake ('' P. australis''). Early symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and headache, an anticoagulant coagulopathy, with risk of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury within 24 hours if fluid replacement and black snake antivenom are not given. Despite the danger, its attractive markings have led it to being a popular snake in captivity. The venom produced by Collett's snake is similar to the Papuan black snake's and

mulga snake The king brown snake (''Pseudechis australis'') is a species of highly venomous snake of the family Elapidae, native to northern, western, and Central Australia. The king brown snake is the largest terrestrial venomous snake in Australia.Razavi, ...

's venom. The venom is cytotoxic and has haemolytic activity. Neurotoxins may also be found in its venom as well. ''P. colletti'' produces about 30 milligrams of venom in one strike. Black snake or tiger snake anti-venom can be administered. It is the world's nineteenth most venomous snake.

Distribution and habitat

Collett's snake is found in central western Queensland, and is diurnal. It is primarily found to the west of Queensland and spreading from the north to south. It is found in dry-barren areas or plains.

Behaviour

Diet

The main diet of Collett's snake consists of

amphibians Amphibians are ectothermic, anamniote, anamniotic, tetrapod, four-limbed vertebrate animals that constitute the class (biology), class Amphibia. In its broadest sense, it is a paraphyletic group encompassing all Tetrapod, tetrapods, but excl ...

reptiles Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...

, and small

mammals A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle e ...

. They threaten many local geckos such as the dubious dtella. Cannibalism is also known to occur in Collett's snake.

Reproduction

Mating In biology, mating is the pairing of either opposite-sex or hermaphroditic organisms for the purposes of sexual reproduction. ''Fertilization'' is the fusion of two gametes. '' Copulation'' is the union of the sex organs of two sexually repr ...

of ''P. colletti'' occurs from early August to late October. Collett's snake is

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that reproduce by depositing fertilized zygotes outside the body (i.e., by laying or spawning) in metabolically independent incubation organs known as eggs, which nurture the embryo into moving offsprings kno ...

and may lay up to 20 eggs in a clutch. Reproduction in captivity is known to be highly successful.

References

External links

Venomous Reptiles
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2381154 Pseudechis Snakes of Australia Reptiles described in 1902 Reptiles of Queensland