Neelaps calonotos

Neelaps calonotos, also known commonly as the black-striped burrowing snake, the black-striped snake, and the western black-striped snake, is a species of mildly venomous burrowing snake endemic to Australia. The specific epithet calonotos ("beautiful-backed") refers to the patterning on the upper surface of the body.^[3]

Neelaps calonotos
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Neelaps
Species:	N. calonotos
Binomial name
Neelaps calonotos (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854)
Synonyms[2]
Furina calonotos A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Neelaps calonotus Günther, 1863 Furina calonota — Boulenger, 1896 Vermicella calonota — Glauert, 1950 Melwardia calonota — Worrell, 1960 Simoselaps calonotus — Cogger, 1992 Neelaps calonotus — S. Wilson & Swan, 2010

Description

Neelaps calonotos rarely grows to a length (including tail) of more than 28 cm (11 in), and is considered to be Australia's smallest venomous snake. Females are larger than males. Dorsally, it is reddish-orange, with a narrow black stripe along the back. The belly is whitish. Three black patches cover the snout, top of the head, and the nape.^[4]

Reproduction

Neelaps calonotos is oviparous, with an average clutch size of four (range 2–6).^[3]

Behaviour and diet

Neelaps calonotos is nocturnal, staying in loose sand during the day and preying on small animals such as lizards at night.^[4]

Geographic range and habitat

Neelaps calonotos occurs in coastal south-western Western Australia.^[3] It lives in dunes as well as open woodlands and shrublands with sandy soils.^[4]