Eastern dwarf mulga snake

The eastern dwarf mulga snake (Pseudechis pailsei), also known commonly as the eastern pygmy mulga snake and the false king brown snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species, which is native to Australia, was genetically confirmed as a distinct species in 2017.^[2]

Eastern dwarf mulga snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Pseudechis
Species:	P. pailsei
Binomial name
Pseudechis pailsei (Hoser, 1998)
Synonyms[1]
Pailsus pailsei Hoser, 1998 Pailsus pailsi — Wüster et al., 2001 Pseudechis pailsei — Wüster et al., 2005 Pseudechis pailsi — Maddock et al., 2017

Taxonomy

The eastern dwarf mulga snake was originally described in 1998 as Pailsus pailsei by Raymond Hoser. Wolfgang Wüster identified that its specific name should be spelt pailsi under taxonomic rules in 2001.^[3] However, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Article 32.5.1) the original spelling should still be used, even though it is an incorrect latinisation.^[1]

Etymology

The specific name, pailsi, is in honour of Australian reptile breeder Roy Pails (born 1956).^[4]

Geographic range

P. pailsi is found in northern Queensland, Australia.^[1]

Description

P. pailsi may attain a total length (including tail) of 107 cm (42 in).^[1]