Species Acanthophis pyrrhus Boulenger, 1898
Desert Death Adder
- Acanthophis pyrrhus Boulenger, G.A. 1898. Description of a new death adder (Acanthophis) from central Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 7 2: 75 [75].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 1946.1.18.62, Station Point, NT. - Acanthophis armstrongi Wells, R.W. & Wellington, C.R. 1985. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology Supplementary Series 1: 1-61 [Date published September, 1985] [43] [nomen nudum].
Type data:
Holotype WAM R61357, 5 km E Giralia, WA.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Ellis, R.J., Kaiser, H., Maddock,S.T., Doughty, P. & Wuster, W. 2021. An evaluation of the nomina for death adders (Acanthophis Daudin, 1803) proposed by Wells & Wellington (1985), and confirmation of A. cryptamydros Maddock et al., 2015 as the valid name for the Kimberley death adder. Zootaxa 4995: 161-172 [166]
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Australian Endemic.
IBRA
NT, Qld, SA, WA: Burt Plain (BRT), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Ranges (CR), Dampierland (DL), Finke (FIN), Gascoyne (GAS), Gibson Desert (GD), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Murchison (MUR), Pilbara (PIL), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP)
Ecological Descriptors
Desert, low open shrubland, low woodland, nocturnal, predator, tall shrubland, terrestrial.
Extra Ecological Information
Viviparous, general carnivore.
General References
Gow, G.F. 1981. Notes on the desert death adder (Acanthophis pyrrhus Boulenger, 1898), with the first reproductive record. Northern Territory Naturalist 4: 21-22 (natural history)
Storr, G.M. 1981. The genus Acanthophis (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Western Austalia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 9(2): 203-210 (taxonomy)
Common Name References
Clayton, M., Wombey, J.C., Mason, I.J., Chesser, R.T. & Wells, A. 2006. CSIRO List of Australian Vertebrates: A Reference with Conservation Status. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing iv 162 pp. [43] (Desert Death Adder)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04-Feb-2023 | ELAPIDAE Boie, 1827 | 15-Mar-2023 | MODIFIED | |
| 07-Feb-2024 | Acanthophis Daudin, 1803 | 01-Sep-2015 | MODIFIED | |
| 07-Feb-2024 | 19-Mar-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 08-Mar-2011 | 08-Mar-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |