| Drysdalia mastersii | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Drysdalia |
| Species: | D. mastersii |
| Binomial name | |
| Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Drysdalia mastersii, also known as Masters's snake, is a species of venomous snake endemic to southern Australia. The specific epithet mastersii honours Australian zoologist George Masters who collected specimens for Gerard Krefft.
Description
The snake grows to an average of about 40 cm in length. 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.
Behaviour
The species is viviparous, with an average litter size of three. Its diet consists mainly of lizards.
Distribution and habitat
The species’ distribution extends eastwards from near Esperance in Western Australia into coastal and subcoastal South Australia, as well as in south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria. It inhabits heathland, grassland and mallee habitats on sandy and limestone soils. The type locality is the Flinders Ranges of South Australia.
References
- Cogger, H.; Ellis, R.; Shea, G. (2017). "Drysdalia mastersii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T177527A83453128. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T177527A83453128.en. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Masters' snake". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- "Drysdalia mastersii (KREFFT, 1866)". Reptile Database. Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
External links
- "Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866) — Masters' Snake". Atlas of Living Australia.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Drysdalia mastersii | |
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