Crack-dwelling Whipsnake

The soil-crack whip snake or crack-dwelling whipsnake (Demansia rimicola) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. It is only mildly venomous.

Taxonomy

Australia's venomous land snakes, also known as Elapidae, are a monophyletic group consisting of almost 100 species, and comprise almost 70% of all snake fauna throughout Australia.

The soil-crack whip snake was initially named the 'collared whipsnake' (Demansia torquate) in 1862. It was not until 2007 that it was discovered that there were 2 species, one located in coastal Queensland, and the other in central Australia which we now know as the soil-crack whip snake (Demansia rimicola).

The year of 2007, it was Scanlon who taxonomically identified the soil-crack ship snake. The word 'Demansia' meaning whipsnakes of Australia and New Guinea were a specific group of medium-long snakes which were large eyed and fast moving. It was described to have a moderately large snout, with a dark collar on the nape which was often less distinct in adults. It was described as darker than other Demansia and therefore was one of the reasons it was able to be differentiated.

Description

The soil-crack whipsnake is front fanged and average about 49 cm in length. They are a slender grey to olive brown, presenting a dark band behind the head and a belly that is bright orange-red.

They have been identified as having moderately large stouts up to 740mm compared to other Demansia, and will often have dark spots on their heads. This is identified via a thin piece of tissue located near another teardrop marking., creating the illusion of 2 pale, merging blobs. This differentiates the soil-crack whip snake from other species as well as the nature of the head markings. In particular the markings on their head appear sharply angulated as 2 prominent diverging rows on their anterior ventral's. It once again becomes further differentiated from other species such as D. angusticeps and D. olivaea as its broad and dark nape band is edged with cream making it more prominent and consequently greater in size.

The body has been described as mid-brown, yellow pigment on the scales which often have been concentrated centrally to give broad dark, and narrow pale stripes along the edge of the snake. They have also been found to have a throat which is strongly marbled with dark brown which dissipates posteriorly along the lateral ventral's.

Distribution

Soil-crack whipsnakes can be found around Tibooburra and the Sturt National Park in far northwestern New South Wales.

Habitat and ecology

This snake is mostly diurnal, using flat rocks, fallen timber, debris, rock crevices, deep soil crack, grass clumps and animal burrows for shelter. they prefer biomes of open forests, woodlands or shrubland that have plenty of grass and shrubs to live amongst. they're main food source is small lizards and snakes which they chase and hunt.