''Simoselaps'', or Australian coral snakes, is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

composed of 12

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

venomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

elapid Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids , from , variant of "sea-fish") is a family (biology), family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus ...

snakes.

Geographic range

Species of the genus ''Simoselaps'' are found throughout

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Description

Australian coral snakes are small snakes. They have smooth and polished scales, shovel-shaped snouts, and are brightly marked with bands or annuli.

Habitat and behavior

Species of ''Simoselaps'' are found mainly in arid regions. They are burrowing snakes which move beneath the surface through loose sand or soil. At night they come to the surface to feed on small lizards and reptile eggs.

Reproduction

All species of Australian coral snakes are

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that reproduce by depositing fertilized zygotes outside the body (i.e., by laying or spawning) in metabolically independent incubation organs known as eggs, which nurture the embryo into moving offsprings kno ...

and lay clutches of three to five eggs. Simoselaps fasciolatus

Species

Several of the above species are sometimes placed in the genera ''

Brachyurophis ''Brachyurophis'' is a genus of elapid snakes known as shovel-nosed snakes, so named because of their shovel-nosed snout which is used to burrow. The genus has eight recognized species, which are all found in Australia."''Brachyurophis'' ". The ...

'' or '' Neelaps''.

References

* Cogger HG (2000). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Sixth Edition''. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Publishing. 808 pp. * Horner P (1998). "''Simoselaps morrisi'' sp. nov. (Elapidae), a new species of snake of the Northern Territory". ''The Beagle'' 14: 63–70. * Jan (1859). "''Plan d'une'' Iconographie descriptive des Ophidiens ''et Description sommaire de nouvelles espèces de Serpents'' ". ''Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Apliquée, Paris'', Series 2, 11: 122–130. (''Simoselaps'', new subgenus, p. 123). (in French). * Storr GM (1978). "Taxonomic notes on the reptiles of the Shark Bay region, Western Australia". ''Records of the Western Australian Museum'' 6 (3): 303–318.

External links

* * * Snake genera Taxa named by Giorgio Jan Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Snakes of Australia {{Elapidae-stub