Summary
Rhinoplocephalus is a genus of snake in the family Elapidae. The genus is monotypic, containing the sole species Rhinoplocephalus bicolor, known commonly as the square-nosed snake, Müller's snake, or Muller's [sic] snake.[2] The species is endemic to south-western Australia.
| Müller's snake | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Rhinoplocephalus F. Müller, 1885 |
| Species: | R. bicolor
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhinoplocephalus bicolor F. Müller, 1885
| |
Geographic range edit
Square-nosed snakes are found in the very far southern coastal areas of the Australian state of Western Australia.[2], ranging from approximately Esperance in the east to somewhere west of Walpole. They typically inhabit swampy depressions in low heath and open forest, often overlapping in habitat with Elapognathus minor, the short-nosed snake. The species is often found in the disused nests of stick-ants (Iridomyrmex spp).
Description edit
Square-nosed snakes are a small snake species, with male snout-vent lengths averaging 34.6 cm and female snout-vent lengths averaging 32.8 cm.[3]
The dorsal surface pf adult individuals is orange-brown, with orange-red sides fading to a pale cream colour on the ventral surface. Occasional animals can be found that are bright orange across the entire dorsal surface. There is also a strong ontogenetic shift in colour pattern, where neonates are dorsally blue with a yellow lateral region.[3]
Diet edit
The square-nosed snake is a reptile specialist, feeding primarily on scincid lizards such as those in the genera Ctenotus, Hemiergis and Morethia.[3]
Reproduction edit
As with some other cold climate Australia elapids, the species is ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young. Gravid females have been collected in October and January, suggesting similar reproductive patterns as for other southern elapid snakes in Australia.[3] Litter sizes are typically small, with between one and five offspring being produced.[3]
Toxicity edit
Square-nosed snakes are mildly venomous, with a typical bite not dangerous to humans.
References edit
- ^ Lloyd, R.; Gaikhorst, G. (2017). "Rhinoplocephalus bicolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T178506A83767375. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T178506A83767375.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b Species Rhinoplocephalus bicolor at The Reptile Database
- ^ a b c d e Shine, Richard (1986). "Natural History of Two Monotypic Snake Genera of Southwestern Australia, Elapognathus and Rhinoplocephalus (Elapidae)". Journal of Herpetology. 20 (3): 436–439. doi:10.2307/1564507. ISSN 0022-1511. JSTOR 1564507.
Further reading edit
- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
- Müller F (1885). "Fierter Nachtrag zum Katalog der herpetologischen Sammlung des Basler Museums ". Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel 7: 668-717. (Rhinoplocephalus, new genus, p. 690; R. bicolor, new species, pp. 690–692 + Plate IX, figures f-i ). (in German).
- Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.