Cacophis harriettae, also known commonly as Harriett's snake, the white-crowned snake, and the white-naped snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
| Cacophis harriettae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Cacophis |
| Species: | C. harriettae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cacophis harriettae Krefft, 1869
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Etymology edit
The specific epithet, harriettae, honours natural history illustrator Harriet Scott, who illustrated Gerard Krefft's The Snakes of Australia, including this species.[2][3][4]
Description edit
C. hariettae grows to an average total length (including tail) of 40 cm (16 in), and a maximum total length of 56 cm (22 in). The upper surface of the body is dark grey to black, with broad white bands extending from the snout along the sides of the head to meet at the nape.[3]
Reproduction edit
C. hariettae is oviparous,[2][3] with an average clutch size of five (range 2–10).[3]
Diet edit
C. hariettae preys upon on lizards, and also eats reptile eggs.[3]
Geographic range edit
The distribution of C. hariettae extends from Mount Abbott, near Proserpine in eastern Queensland, south-eastwards to north-eastern New South Wales.[3]
Habitat edit
C. harriettae occurs in moist habitats, including rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests as well as suburban gardens.[3]
References edit
- ^ Shea, G.; Venz, M.; Wilson, S.; Vanderduys, E.; Hobson, R. (2018). "Cacophis harriettae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T102706845A102706850. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102706845A102706850.en. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Species Cacophis harriettae at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g "White-crowned snake". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Cacophis harriettae, p. 117).
Further reading edit
- Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Pseudelaps harriettæ, new combination, pp. 318–319).
- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
- Krefft G (1869). The Snakes of Australia; An Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue of All the Known Species. Sydney: Thomas Richards, Government Printer. xxv + 100 pp. + Plates I–XII. (Cacophis harriettae, new species, pp. 76–77 + Plate XI, figure 13).
- Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.
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