Species Demansia psammophis (Schlegel, 1837)
Yellow-faced Whip Snake
- Elaps psammophis Schlegel, H. 1837. Essai sur la Physionomie des Serpens. Partie Générale et Partie Descriptive. La Haye : Kips & Stockum Vol. 2 xv 606 pp. [455] [as E. psammophis].
Type data:
Lectotype MNHNP RA-0.7666 ♀ (formerly MNHNP 7666), New Holland [Australia].
Paralectotype(s) MNHNP RA-0.7663 ♂ (formerly MNHNP 7663), same data as Lectotype; MNHNP RA-2012.406 (formerly MNHNP 7663A), same data as Lectotype.Subsequent designation references:
Nankivell, J.H., Maryan, B., Bush, B.G. & Hutchinson, M.N. 2023. Whip it into shape: Revision of the Demansia psammophis (Schlegel, 1837) complex (Squamata: Elapidae), with a description of a new species from central Australia. Zootaxa 5311(3): 301-339 [311]. - Pseudelaps psammophidius Duméril, A.M.C., Bibron, G. & Duméril, A. 1854. Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles. Paris : Roret Vol. 7(2) 781-1536 pp. [1234] [replacement name; unnecessary replacement name].
Type data:
Syntype(s) MNHNP RA-0.7663, RA-0.7666, RA-2012.0406 (formerly MNHNP 7663, 7666 & 7663A respectively (see D. psammophis types)), New Holland [Australia]
Comment: type locality erroneously reported by Duméril et al. (1854) as Port du Roi Georges [King George Sound, WA]. See Nankivell et al. for further discussion.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Cogger, H.G., in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. 313 pp. in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 vi + 313 pp. [222]
Generic Combinations
- Demansia psammophis (Schlegel, 1837). —
Günther, A. 1858. Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xvi 281 pp. [212] (new combination)
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Eastern Australia
Australian Endemic.
IBRA
NT, SA, WA: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)
Ecological Descriptors
Closed forest, diurnal, low open woodland, low shrubland, low woodland, open forest, open heath, open scrub, oviparous, predator, tall forest, tall shrubland, terrestrial, woodland.
Extra Ecological Information
Lacertiphagous.
General References
Covacevich, J. & Limpus, C. 1972. Observations on community egg-laying by the yellow-faced whip snake, Demansias psammophis (Schlegel, 1837) (Squamata: Elapidae). Herpetologica 28: 208-210 (communal egg-laying)
Shine, R. 1980. Ecology of eastern Australian whipsnakes of the genus Demansia. Journal of Herpetology 14: 381-389 (ecology)
Storr, G.M. 1978. Whip snakes Demansia (Elapidae) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 6: 287-301 (taxonomy)
Common Name References
CAVS 2006. Census of Australian Vertebrate Species. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Yellow-faced Whip Snake)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-Feb-2024 | SQUAMATA | 31-Jan-2024 | MODIFIED | |
| 04-Feb-2023 | ELAPIDAE Boie, 1827 | 28-Nov-2022 | MODIFIED | |
| 07-Feb-2024 | 19-Mar-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 08-Mar-2011 | 08-Mar-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |