Hemiaspis signata

{{Short description|Species of snake}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Black-bellied Swamp Snake (Hemiaspis signata).jpg

| image_caption =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Shea, G. |author2=Venz, M. |author3=Wilson, S. |author4=Hobson, R. |author5=Vanderduys, E. |year=2018 |title=Hemiaspis signata |volume=2018 |page=e.T102709942A102710051 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102709942A102710051.en |access-date=18 August 2023}}

| genus = Hemiaspis

| species = signata

| authority = (Jan, 1859) {{cite web|url=https://www.gbif.org/species/5222195|title=Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859)|publisher=Global Biodiversity Information Facility|accessdate=20 July 2014}}

| range_map =

| range_map_caption =

| synonyms = *Alecto signata {{small|Jan, 1859}}

• Denisonia signata
  {{small|— Boulenger, 1896}}
• Drepanodontis signata
  {{small|— Rankin, 1972}}
• Hemiaspis signata
  {{small|— Cogger, 1983}} {{cite web|url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Hemiaspis&species=signata|title=Hemiaspis signata The Reptile Database. |website=www.reptile-database.org.}}

}}

File:Black-bellied Swamp Snake 4469.jpg

Hemiaspis signata (common names: black-bellied swamp snake{{cite journal|title=Two cases of bites by the black-bellied swamp snake (Hemiaspis signata)|date=March 2002|pmid=11711130 | volume=40|issue=3|journal=Toxicon|pages=317–9 | last1 = Isbister | first1 = GK | last2 = Dawson | first2 = AH | last3 = Whyte | first3 = IM | doi=10.1016/s0041-0101(01)00221-5}} and marsh snake{{cite web|url=http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Learning+Resources/~/media/Documents/Learning%20resources/QM/Resources/Fact%20Sheets/fact-sheet-whip-snakes-marsh-snakes.pdf|title=Whip Snakes and Marsh Snakes Fact Sheet|date=2011|publisher=Queensland Museum|accessdate=20 July 2014}}) is a species of venomous elapid snake endemic to Australia, where it is found along the east coast.{{cite web|url=http://bie.ala.org.au/species/HEMIASPIS+SIGNATA|title=Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859) - Black-bellied Swamp Snake|publisher=Atlas of Living Australia|accessdate=20 July 2014}}

Recognisable by two distinctive narrow white lines on the face, the colour can range from pale olive to black top with a dark grey to black belly. Adults can grow to 70 cm in length, but most specimens are smaller than this. Their diet consists mainly of skinks and frogs.{{cite web|url=http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Learning+Resources/~/media/Documents/Learning%20resources/QM/Resources/Fact%20Sheets/fact-sheet-whip-snakes-marsh-snakes.pdf|title=Whip Snakes and Marsh Snakes Fact Sheet|date=2011|publisher=Queensland Museum|accessdate=20 July 2014}}

It was first described in 1859 by Giorgio Jan as Alecto signata.{{Cite web|title=Australian Faunal Directory: Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859)|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Hemiaspis_signata|access-date=2021-10-07|website=biodiversity.org.au|language=en}}{{Cite Q|Q108828733|pages=122-130 [128]|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13712916}}