AROD > Reptiles / Squamata / Elapidae / Acanthophis
Death adders
Acanthophis
- Daudin, 1803
Pronunciation: | AK-anth-OH-fiss | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Etymology: | 'spine snake', refering to the spine at the tip of the tail. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Taxonomic notes: |
The taxonomy of the members of this genus is currently unclear. Molecular evidence suggests a number of groups:1
There does not appear to be a clear separation between the common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) and the north-east Queensland north-eastern death adder (Acanthophis praelongus). The name Acanthophis hawkei (named for former Prime Minister Bob Hawke) is available should specimens from the Barkly Tableland region be split into a separate species.2 As of May 2012, the Federal Government lists A. hawkei as vulnerable. Pending a formal systematic review, the traditional arrangement of species is presented here. |
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Notes: | Around six species found through Australasia, with four or five endemic Australian species. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statistics: |
Reproductive modes:
Live-bearing - 7 out of 7 Australian species Size range: Smallest Australian species: Kimberley death adder (Acanthophis cryptamydros) at 43 cm Longest Australian species: Barkly Death Adder (Acanthophis hawkei) at up to 130 cm |
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Number of Australian species: | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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- Wüster, W.; Dumbrell, A.J.; Hay, C.; Pook, C.E.; Williams, D.J.; & Fry, B.G. (2005). Snakes across the Strait: trans-Torresian phylogeographic relationships in three genera of Australasian snakes (Serpentes: Elapidae: Acanthophis, Oxyuranus, and Pseudechis). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 34(1):1-14. - search web for this article
- Wells, Richard W. & Wellington, Ross C. (1985). A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, Supplementary Series, 1:1-61. - search web for this article
- Maddock, Simon T; Ellis, Ryan J; Doughty, Paul; Smith, Lawrence A; & Wuester, Wolfgang (2015). A new species of death adder (Acanthophis: Serpentes: Elapidae) from north-western Australia. Zootaxa, 4007(3):301-326.