Neelaps

Neelaps is a small Australian genus in the family Elapidae, the same front-fanged family that includes cobras, mambas, taipans, and the many venomous land snakes of Australia. Members are burrowing snakes, built for a life spent largely beneath the surface in sandy and loose soils. The best known representative is the Black-striped Burrowing Snake (sometimes called the black-naped snake), a slim, modestly sized species typical of the genus. Their small heads, smooth scales, and reduced eyes reflect adaptation to digging and moving through soil rather than active hunting in the open.

These snakes are found in Australia, favoring arid and semi-arid country, sandy plains, and scrubland where they can shelter under leaf litter, logs, rocks, or beneath the soil. They are rarely seen in the open by day. Like many fossorial elapids, they are most active at night or after rain, when they may surface to move and forage. Their secretive habits mean encounters with people are uncommon, and much of their detailed natural history is poorly documented.

As members of Elapidae, Neelaps snakes are venomous and have fixed front fangs. In practice they are small, shy, burrowing animals that feed on small prey such as reptiles, with diets in this group commonly including small skinks and reptile eggs. They are not considered a significant threat to humans because of their small size and retiring nature, but no wild venomous snake should ever be handled. Treat any elapid with caution, do not attempt to catch or move one, and if a bite occurs seek emergency medical care immediately. In the United States contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or call local emergency services; in Australia call 000.