Drysdalia mastersii

Drysdalia mastersii, also known commonly as Masters's snake or Masters' snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Drysdalia mastersii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Drysdalia
Species:	D. mastersii
Binomial name
Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866)
Synonyms[2]
Hoplocephalus mastersii Krefft, 1866 Notechis mastersii (Kreft, 1866) Denisonia coronoides Boulenger, 1896 (partim)

Etymology

The specific epithet mastersii is in honour of Australian entomologist George Masters who collected specimens for Gerard Krefft.^{[3]: 171  [4]}

Description

Drysdalia mastersii grows to an average total length (tail included) of about 40 cm (16 in). The upper body is light brown to dark grey, with a pale band over the nape and a white stripe extending from the upper lip to the neck.^[4]

Geographic distribution

The geographic distribution of Drysdalia mastersii extends eastwards from near Esperance in Western Australia into coastal and subcoastal South Australia, as well as into south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria. The type locality is the Flinders Ranges of South Australia.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Drysdalia mastersii are heathland, grassland, and mallee on sandy and limestone soils.^[4]

Diet

Drysdalia mastersii preys predominately upon lizards.^[4]

Reproduction

Drysdalia mastersii is viviparous, with an average litter size of three.^[4]