Animal: Tropidechis carinatus, Rough-scaled snake
Species
- Tropidechis carinatus
The status of a new species, T. adlieri (Hoser 2003), is doubtful.
Taxonomy
Common names
- Rough-scaled snake, Clarence river tiger snake
Distribution
See also link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information.
East Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, isolated population in northeast Queensland
Tropidechis carinatus
Biology
Tropidechis lives in wet forested areas and scrub, where they mostly hunt at night. These snakes are also not uncommonly found in low scrub and bushes, which is unusual for elapids. Of the Australian elapids, the genus Hoplocephalus is the only other that is arboreal, and rarely tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus ssp.).
With a body length of under 1 m, the fangs are relatively long (up to 5 mm). Tropidechis is very aggressive when threatened and even under slight provocation will strike fiercely and repeatedly.
Risk
Tropidechis possesses only small quantities of venom and, compared to the most dangerous Australian species, the venom is only moderately toxic. However, there is one documented fatality.
Literature (biological)
Cogger 1986, Mirtschin et al. 1990, Sutherland 1983, O'Shea 2005