Austrelaps
Encyclopedia
Austrelaps is a genus
of venomous
elapid
snakes native to the relatively fertile temperate southern and eastern part of the Australia
n continent. Three species are currently recognized, of which there are no subspecies. They are commonly called copperheads or Australian copperheads. Despite sharing a name with the American copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix
, they are not related.
and on Kangaroo Island
. The highlands copperhead is 1.25 m (4 feet) in length and lives in northern Victoria
to southern New South Wales
. The common copperhead reaches 1.75 m (5 feet 9 inches) in length and lives in southern Victoria into Tasmania
.
Australian copperheads are usually of medium size, 1.4-1.7 m (4½-5½ feet), only rarely being more than 1.8 m (6 feet) long, and have a moderate build. Their colour varies a great deal, from a coppery mid-brown to yellowish, reddish, grey or even black, depending on the individual. The copper head colouring
that gave rise to the common name is sometimes present, sometimes not. Some individuals also have visible markings just behind the head. Perhaps in consequence of this great variation, it was not realised until the second half of the 20th century that there were in fact three different species
.
at most times of year, but switch to night-time hunting in hot weather.
They are generalised carnivores and will take any suitably sized prey—including their own young—but the major diet item is frog
s. Where frogs are common, so too are copperheads, and other snakes tend to be rare.
Elapidae
), Australian copperheads have hollow fixed fangs mounted at the front of the jaw. They are shy and retiring by nature, and prefer to escape rather than fight where escape is possible, and their venom is, by Australian standards, only moderately toxic (equal on a per-mg basis to that of the Indian cobra
). Nevertheless, they deliver a substantial quantity of venom, and a copperhead bite left untreated can easily kill a healthy adult human. There is no specific copperhead antivenom; however, Tiger Snake antivenom is effective.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of venomous
Venomous snake
"Poisonous snake" redirects here. For true poisonous snakes, see Rhabdophis.Venomous snakes are snakes which have venom glands and specialized teeth for the injection of venom...
elapid
Elapidae
Elapidae is a family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, terrestrially in Asia, Australia, Africa, North America and South America and aquatically in the Pacific and Indian Oceans...
snakes native to the relatively fertile temperate southern and eastern part of the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n continent. Three species are currently recognized, of which there are no subspecies. They are commonly called copperheads or Australian copperheads. Despite sharing a name with the American copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix
Agkistrodon contortrix
Agkistrodon contortrix is a species of venomous snake found in North America, a member of the Crotalinae subfamily. The more common name for the species is "copperhead". The behavior of Agkistrodon contortrix may lead to accidental encounters with humans...
, they are not related.
Description
The three species of Australian copperheads, i.e., the pygmy, highlands, and common copperheads, vary in size. The pygmy copperhead is 60 cm (2 feet) long, and lives in South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and on Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
. The highlands copperhead is 1.25 m (4 feet) in length and lives in northern Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
to southern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The common copperhead reaches 1.75 m (5 feet 9 inches) in length and lives in southern Victoria into Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
.
Australian copperheads are usually of medium size, 1.4-1.7 m (4½-5½ feet), only rarely being more than 1.8 m (6 feet) long, and have a moderate build. Their colour varies a great deal, from a coppery mid-brown to yellowish, reddish, grey or even black, depending on the individual. The copper head colouring
that gave rise to the common name is sometimes present, sometimes not. Some individuals also have visible markings just behind the head. Perhaps in consequence of this great variation, it was not realised until the second half of the 20th century that there were in fact three different species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
.
Distribution and habitat
Copperheads are well adapted to cooler climates; they remain active after most reptiles have become dormant, and are the first to resume hunting at the end of winter. Their favoured habitat is near water. While they are moderately uncommon elsewhere, where conditions are suitable they congregate in substantial numbers.Behaviour
Copperheads are diurnalDiurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
at most times of year, but switch to night-time hunting in hot weather.
Diet
Copperheads are very much at home in the water: they swim well and often hunt tadpoles.They are generalised carnivores and will take any suitably sized prey—including their own young—but the major diet item is frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s. Where frogs are common, so too are copperheads, and other snakes tend to be rare.
Breeding
Breeding starts in spring, and females give birth to about 14 live young, each a little under 20 cm (8 inches) long, in late summer.Venom
Like all elapids (members of the familyFamily (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Elapidae
Elapidae
Elapidae is a family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, terrestrially in Asia, Australia, Africa, North America and South America and aquatically in the Pacific and Indian Oceans...
), Australian copperheads have hollow fixed fangs mounted at the front of the jaw. They are shy and retiring by nature, and prefer to escape rather than fight where escape is possible, and their venom is, by Australian standards, only moderately toxic (equal on a per-mg basis to that of the Indian cobra
Indian Cobra
Indian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra is a species of the genus Naja found in the Indian subcontinent and a member of the "big four", the four species which inflict the most snakebites in India. This snake is revered in Indian mythology and culture, and is often seen with snake charmers...
). Nevertheless, they deliver a substantial quantity of venom, and a copperhead bite left untreated can easily kill a healthy adult human. There is no specific copperhead antivenom; however, Tiger Snake antivenom is effective.
Species
| Species | Authority | Common name | Geographic range |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. labialis | (Jan Giorgio Jan Giorgio Jan was an Italian taxonomist, zoologist, botanist, herpetologist, and writer. He is also known as Georg Jan or Georges Jan.... , 1859) |
pygmy copperhead | Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... (South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... ) |
| A. ramsayi Austrelaps ramsayi Austrelaps ramsayi, the highlands copperhead, is a venomous species of snake.-Habitat:It is found in montane heath, woodland, sclerophyll forests, along water bodies, and in swampy areas with thick clumps of tussock grass.-Reproduction:... |
(Krefft Gerard Krefft Johann Ludwig Gerard Krefft , one of Australia's first and greatest zoologists and palaeontologists. In addition to many scientific papers, his books include The Snakes of Australia, A Catalogue of the Minerals and Rocks in the Australian Museum and A Short Guide to the Australian Fossil Remains... , 1864) |
highlands copperhead | Australia (New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... , Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... ) |
| A. superbus | (Günther, 1858) | lowlands copperhead | Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania Tasmania Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart... , Victoria) |
External links
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System - Austrelaps