Aspidomorphus muelleri

Aspidomorphus muelleri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Aspidomorphus
Species:
A. muelleri
Binomial name
Aspidomorphus muelleri
(Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms[2]
  • Elaps muelleri
    Schlegel, 1837
  • Pseudelaps muelleri
    (Schlegel, 1837)

Aspidomorphus muelleri, also known commonly as Müller's crown snake and Müller's crowned snake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae.[2] The species is native to Oceania. There are three recognized subspecies.

Etymology

The specific name, muelleri, is in honor of German naturalist Salomon Müller.[3]: 184 

Description

Aspidomorphus muelleri may attain a total length of 50 cm (20 in), including a tail length of 7 cm (2.8 in). It has six upper labials, the third and fourth in contact with the eye. The dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The anal plate is divided.[4]

Geographic distribution

Aspidomorphus muelleri is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Aspidomorphus muelleri are forest, shrubland, and grassland, at elevations of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft).[1]

Behavior

Aspidomorphus muelleri is terrestrial.[1]

Reproduction

Aspidomorphus muelleri is oviparous.[2]

Subspecies

The following three subspecies of Aspidomorphus muelleri are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Aspidomorphus muelleri muelleri (Schlegel, 1837)
  • Aspidomorphus muelleri interruptus Brongersma, 1934
  • Aspidomorphus muelleri lineatus Brongersma, 1934

References

  1. ^ a b c Tallowin, O.; Allison, A. (2022) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Aspidomorphus muelleri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T196567A217771523. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T196567A217771523.en. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Aspidomorphus muelleri ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  3. ^ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
  4. ^ Boulenger, G.A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III. Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Pseudelaps muelleri, pp. 316–317).

Further reading

  • Brongersma, L.D. (1934). "Contributions to Indo-Australian Herpetology". Zoologische Mededeelingen. 17 (3/4): 161–251 + Plates I–II. (Aspidomorphus mülleri interruptus, new subspecies, pp. 231–232 + Plate II, figure 6; A. m. lineatus, new subspecies, pp. 232–234).
  • McDowell, S.B.; Cogger, H.G. (1967). "Aspidomorphus, a genus of New Guinea snakes of the Family Elapidae, with notes on related genera". Journal of Zoology. 151 (4): 497–543.
  • O'Shea, M. (1996). A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Independent Group Ltd. ISBN 978-9810078362. xii + 239 pp. (in English and Creole).
  • Schlegel, H. (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale xxviii + 251 pp. AND Partie Descriptive 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. ("Elaps müllerii ", new species, pp. 452–454 + Plate XVI, figures 16–17 in Partie Descriptive). (in French).