• Notechis Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). 3. London : British Museum xiv 727 pp. 25 pls. [351].

  Type species:

   Naja (Hamadryas) scutata Peters, 1861 by monotypy.
• Oplocephalus Gray, J.E. 1831. A synopsis of the species of the class Reptilia. pp. 1-110 in Griffith, E. (ed.). The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization by the Baron Cuvier. London : Whittaker, Treacher & Co. Vol. 9 481+110 pp. [1831 on title page] [84] [ex Cuvier vernacular].

  Type species:

   Oplocephalus cuvieri Gray, 1830 by monotypy.

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. [228]

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Ben Lomond (BEL), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR)

History of changes

• Hoplocephalus ater Krefft, G. 1866. Descriptions of three species of snakes of the genus Hoplocephalus. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1866: 370-371 [370].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM 6577, Flinders Range, SA (original register entry cites Port Lincoln, SA as the type locality).

  Secondary source:

   Keogh, J.S., Scott, I.A.W., & Hayes, C. 2005. Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59: 226-233 [232] (recognised as a synonym of Notechis scutatus (Peters, 1861) based on phylogenetic data).
• Notechis ater humphreysi Worrell, E. 1963. Two new subspecies of the elapine genus Notechis from Bass Strait. Australian Reptile Park Records 2: 2-11 [5, fig. 2a-c] [Previous CAVS code: 5106].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM R17955, New Year Is. near King Is., Bass Strait, TAS.

  Secondary source:

   Keogh, J.S., Scott, I.A.W., & Hayes, C. 2005. Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59: 226-233 [232] (recognised as a synonym of Notechis scutatus (Peters, 1861) based on phylogenetic data).
• Notechis scutatus niger Kinghorn, J.R. 1921. Studies in Australian reptiles. 2. Records of the Australian Museum 13: 143-154 [145, pl. 26 figs 6-8].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM R7124, Deep Creek, 20 mi[les] from Kingscote, Kangaroo Is., SA.

  Secondary source:

   Keogh, J.S., Scott, I.A.W., & Hayes, C. 2005. Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59: 226-233 [232] (recognised as a synonym of Notechis scutatus (Peters, 1861) based on phylogenetic data).
• Naja (Hamadryas) scutata Peters, W. 1861. Eine zweite übersicht (Vergl. Monatsbericht with 1859 p. 269) der von Hrn. F. Jagor auf Malacca, Java, Borneo und den Philippinen gesammelten und dem Kgl. zoologischen Museum und übersandten Schlangen. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1861: 683-691 [1862 on title page] [690].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMB 2815 (presumed lost), Java (errore).

  Secondary source:

   Keogh, J.S., Scott, I.A.W., & Hayes, C. 2005. Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59: 226-233 [232] (raised to species level based on phylogenetic data).
• Notechis edwardsi 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] [46].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM R74510, Racecourse Lagoon, Uralla, NSW [30°38'S 151°30'E].

  Secondary source:

   Shea, G.M. & Sadlier, R.A. 1999. A catalogue of the non-fossil amphibian and reptile type specimens in the collection of the Australian Museum: types currently, previously and purportedly present. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum 15: 1-91 [66].
• Notechis longmorei 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] [46].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM R74508, Lake George, NSW [35°12'S 149°27'E].
• Notechis schwaneri 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] [46].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM R116990, Williams River 4.5 km above guest house in Barrington Tops National Park, NSW.

  Secondary source:

   Shea, G.M. & Sadlier, R.A. 1999. A catalogue of the non-fossil amphibian and reptile type specimens in the collection of the Australian Museum: types currently, previously and purportedly present. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum 15: 1-91 [66].
• Notechis scutatus occidentalis Glauert, L. 1948. A western tiger snake, Notechis scutatus occidentalis, subsp. nov. Western Australian Naturalist 1: 139-140 [139].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM R9430, unspecified locality, but collector from Bassendean, WA.

  Secondary source:

   Keogh, J.S., Scott, I.A.W., & Hayes, C. 2005. Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59: 226-233 [232] (recognised as a synonym of Notechis scutatus (Peters, 1861) based on phylogenetic data).
• Notechis ater serventyi Worrell, E. 1963. Two new subspecies of the elapine genus Notechis from Bass Strait. Australian Reptile Park Records 2: 2-11 [3, figs 1a-c].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM R17953, Chappell Is., Furneaux Group, Bass Strait, TAS.

  Secondary source:

   Keogh, J.S., Scott, I.A.W., & Hayes, C. 2005. Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59: 226-233 [232] (recognised as a synonym of Notechis scutatus (Peters, 1861) based on phylogenetic data).

Generic Combinations

• Notechis ater (Krefft, 1866). —
  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. [229]
• Notechis scutatus ater (Krefft, 1866).
• Notechis scutatus (Peters, 1861).
• Notechis scutatus scutatus (Peters, 1861).

Introduction

The species previously included six former subspecies that were later synonymised based on phylogenetic data (Keogh et al. 2005), including Notechis scutatus ater (Krefft, 1866), Notechis scutatus humphreysi Worrell, 1963, Notechis scutatus niger Kinghorn, 1921, Notechis scutatus occidentalis Glauert, 1948, Notechis scutatus scutatus (Peters, 1861) and Notechis scutatus serventyi Worrell, 1963.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Ben Lomond (BEL), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, diurnal, open forest, open heath, predator, swamp, tall forest, terrestrial, tussock grassland, viviparous, woodland.

Extra Ecological Information

Occasionally nocturnal, general carnivore.

General References

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. [229] (subspecies not identified in Cogger et al. (1983: 229), in which Cogger listed synonyms)

Keogh, J.S., Scott, I.A.W., & Hayes, C. 2005. Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59: 226-233

Lillywhite, H.B. 1980. Behavioral thermoregulation in Australian elapid snakes. Copeia 1980: 452-458 (thermoregulation)

Shine, R. 1977. Habitats, diets, and sympatry in snakes: a study from Australia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 55: 1118-1128 (ecology)

Shine, R. 1977. Reproduction in Australian elapid snakes. I. Testicular cycles and mating seasons. Australian Journal of Zoology 25: 647-653 (reproduction)

Shine, R. 1977. Reproduction in Australian elapid snakes. II. Female reproductive cycles. Australian Journal of Zoology 25: 655-666 (reproduction)

Shine, R. 1978. Growth rates and sexual maturation in six species of Australian elapid snakes. Herpetologica 34: 73-79 (growth)

Shine, R. 1979. Activity patterns in Australian elapid snakes (Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae). Herpetologica 35: 1-11 (behaviour)

Webb, G.A. 1981. A note on climbing ability in tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) and predation on arboreal nesting birds. Victorian Naturalist 98: 159-160 (climbing and food)

Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2003. A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Australia : Holland 448 pp. [424] (distribution)

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. [45] (Tiger Snake)

History of changes

• Oploceph[alus] cuvieri Gray, J.E. 1831. A synopsis of the species of the class Reptilia. pp. 1-110 in Griffith, E. (ed.). The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization by the Baron Cuvier. London : Whittaker, Treacher & Co. Vol. 9 481+110 pp. [1831 on title page] [84, synopsis] [as Oploceph. cuvieri, Sherborn, C.D. 1924. Index Animalium. London : British Museum Vol. 2 945–1771 pp. regards Oplocephalus cuvieri as a nom. nud. apparently without justification].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MNHP (presumed lost), unspecified locality.

  Secondary source:

   Sherborn, C.D. 1924. Index Animalium. London : British Museum Vol. 2 pp. 945-1771.
• Hoplocephalus fuscus Steindachner, F. 1867. Reptilien. pp. 1–98 in, Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorff-Urbair. Zoologie 1(3). Vienna : State Printer. [1869 on title page] [82, pl. 3 figs 11-12].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown (not found), Australia.
• Alecto fasciolata Jan, G. 1863. Elenco Sistematico Degli Ofidi Descritti e Disegnati per l'Iconografia Generale. Milan : A. Lombardi 143 pp. [117] [as A. fasciolata, ?nom. nud.].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MSNM (not located), Australia.
• Alecto fasciolata Jan, G. & Sordelli, F. 1873. Iconographie Générale des Ophidiens. Atlas. Milan : Jan & Sordelli 43 pp. [pl. 6 fig. 4].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MSNM specimen figured (not found), Australia.

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, diurnal, open forest, open heath, predator, swamp, tall forest, terrestrial, tussock grassland, viviparous, woodland.

History of changes