Species Pseudonaja affinis Günther, 1872
Dugite
- Pseudonaja affinis Günther, A. 1872. Seventh account of new species of snakes in the collection of the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4 9: 13-37 [35, pl. 4 fig. C].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 1946.1.19.77, Australia. - Pseudonaja affinis exilis Storr, G.M. 1989. A new Pseudonaja (Serpentes: Elapidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14(3): 421-423.
Type data:
Holotype WAM 19870, Rottnest Island, WA [32°00'S 115°31'E].
Paratype(s) WAM 14 specimens. - Demansia nuchalis tanneri Worrell, E. 1961. A new insular brown snake. Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 1958–59: 56-58 [56].
Type data:
Holotype NMV D9819, Boxer Is., Recherche Archipelago, WA.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. In, Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 vi + 313 pp. [232]
- Skinner, A. 2009. A multivariate morphometric analysis and systematic review of Pseudonaja (Serpentes, Elapidae, Hydrophiinae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155: 171-197 [187]
Generic Combinations
- Pseudonaja affinis tanneri (Worrell, 1961).
Introduction
While previously considered to consist of two additional subspecies (P. a. exilis from Rottnest Island, P. a. tanneri from Recherche Archipelago) the validity of these forms is unclear as recent molecular work does not support their distinctiveness (Skinner et al. 2005) and Skinner (2009) treated the species as monotypic. We follow the Australian Society of Herpetologists in treating P. affinis as monotypic until further work can be conducted to confirm subspecies.
Distribution
States
Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Australian Endemic.
IBRA
WA: Esperance Plains (ESP), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Mallee (MAL), Nullarbor (NUL), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Warren (WAR)
Ecological Descriptors
Diurnal, low shrubland, open forest, open heath, oviparous, predator, tall shrubland, terrestrial, woodland.
Extra Ecological Information
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. [232] (subspecies not identified in Cogger et al. (1983: 232), in which Cogger listed Pseudonaja affinis and Damansia nuchalis tanneri as synonyms)
Skinner, A. 2009. A multivariate morphometric analysis and systematic review of Pseudonaja (Serpentes, Elapidae, Hydrophiinae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155: 171-197 [187]
Skinner, A., Donnellan, S.C., Hutchinson, M.N. & Hutchinson, R.G. 2005. A phylogenetic analysis of Pseudonaja (Hydrophiinae, Elapidae, Serpentes) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37: 558-571
Storr, G.M. 1979. Dangerous Snakes of Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum Press 24 pp. (natural history)
Common Name References
CAVS 2006. Census of Australian Vertebrate Species. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Dugite)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04-Feb-2023 | ELAPIDAE Boie, 1827 | 29-Nov-2022 | MODIFIED | |
| 07-Feb-2024 | 19-Mar-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 08-Mar-2011 | 08-Mar-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |