Smooth-scaled death adder
| Smooth-scaled death adder | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Acanthophis |
| Species: | A. laevis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthophis laevis Macleay, 1878
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
| |
The smooth-scaled death adder (Acanthophis laevis), also called the New Guinea death adder,[2] is a venomous species of elapid snake endemic to Southeast Asia and Oceania.[3] Unlike other snakes commonly referred to as "adders", which are nearly all in the Viperidae family, A. laevis is part of the Elapidae, the family containing cobras, coral snakes, mambas and sea snakes, among other venomous species.
A. laevis is an ambush predator, lying in-wait to capture fast-moving prey like birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The death adders (genus Acanthophis) have a broad diet, mainly consisting of frogs, lizards, and rodents. As with many snakes, females grow larger than males; tail length and head-shape also differ between sexes in some species.[4]
Distribution and habitat
A. laevis is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.[5] In the former country, it is known from various islands across Eastern Indonesia and Maluku Province, including Numfor and Yamdena Islands, as well as the Maluku Islands of Kai Besar, Kai Kecil, Obi, and Seram.[6] On the island of New Guinea, it is known from most regions, including much of Western New Guinea (Indonesia) east to the region of Port Moresby.[7]
Reproduction
A. laevis is ovoviviparous.[5]
References
- ^ Tallowin, O.; O'Shea, M.; Parker, F. (2022) [amended version of 2015 assessment]. "Acanthophis laevis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T42492778A217802220. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T42492778A217802220.en. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ "New Guinea Death Adder (Acanthophis laevis) - iNaturalist". iNaturalist. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Observations - iNaturalist". iNaturalist. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Shine, Richard (2014). "Morphology, Reproduction and Diet in Australian and Papuan Death Adders (Acanthophis, Elapidae)". PLOS ONE. 9 (4) e94216. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...994216S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0094216. PMC 3981772. PMID 24718608.
- ^ a b Acanthophis laevis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 February 2016.
- ^ "Observations - iNaturalist". iNaturalist. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Observations - iNaturalist". iNaturalist. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
Further reading
- Macleay W (1878). "The Ophidians of the Chevert Expedition". The Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 2: 33–41. (Acanthophis laevis, new species, pp. 40–41)
- Wilson, S.; Swan, G. (2023). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia (Sixth ed.). Sydney: Reed New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-92554-671-2. (Acanthophis laevis, pp. 576–577)
- Wüster W; Dumbrell AJ; Hay C; Pook CE; Williams DJ; Fry BG (2005). "Snakes across the Strait: trans-Torresian phylogeographic relationships in three genera of Australasian snakes (Serpentes: Elapidae: Acanthophis, Oxyuranus, and Pseudechis)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 34 (1): 1–14. Bibcode:2005MolPE..34....1W. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.08.018. PMID 15579378.