Drysdalia mastersii
{{Short description|Species of Australian snake}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Drysdalia
| species = mastersii
| authority = (Krefft, 1866)
| range_map =
| synonyms =
- Hoplocephalus mastersii Krefft, 1866
- Denisonia coronoides Boulenger, 1896
- Notechis mastersii Storr, 1982
}}
Drysdalia mastersii, also known as Masters's snake, is a species of venomous snake endemic to southern Australia. The specific epithet mastersii honours Australian zoologist George Masters who collected specimens for Gerard Krefft.
Description
The snake grows to an average of about 40 cm in length. The upper body is light brown to dark grey, with a pale band over the nape and a white stripe extending from the upper lip to the neck.{{cite web |url= http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Elapidae/Drysdalia/mastersii |title= Masters' snake |author= |date=|website= Australian Reptile Online Database |publisher= Stewart Macdonald |access-date= 30 May 2021}}
Behaviour
The species is viviparous, with an average litter size of three. Its diet consists mainly of lizards.
Distribution and habitat
The species’ distribution extends eastwards from near Esperance in Western Australia into coastal and subcoastal South Australia, as well as in south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria. It inhabits heathland, grassland and mallee habitats on sandy and limestone soils. The type locality is the Flinders Ranges of South Australia.{{cite web |url= https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Drysdalia&species=mastersii |title= Drysdalia mastersii (KREFFT, 1866) |author= |date= |website= Reptile Database |publisher= Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann |access-date= 30 May 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |title=Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866) — Masters' Snake |publisher=Atlas of Living Australia |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Drysdalia_mastersii}}
{{Taxonbar|from= Q3040216}}
Category:Reptiles of South Australia
Category:Reptiles of Victoria (state)
Category:Reptiles of Western Australia
Category:Taxa named by Gerard Krefft
Category:Reptiles described in 1866
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