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Whipsnakes
Demansia - Günther, 1858

Pronunciation: dee-MAN-see-ah
Etymology: after A. van Diemen.

Taxonomic notes:

Notes: Revised in Storr (1978) and again in Shea and Scanlon (2007). Males grow bigger than females, and probably exhibit male-male combat (Shine 1980). This genus exhibits "typical" whipsnake morphology and behaviour: slender body, long tail, large eyes, active hunters, terrestrial, oviparous, diurnal, feeding mainly on lizards (Shine 1980). These characteristics can be found in a few other genera around the world.
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 14 out of 14 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: black-necked whipsnake (Demansia calodera) at 33 cm
 Longest Australian species: greater black whipsnake (Demansia papuensis) at up to 180 cm
Number of Australian species: 14
 

narrow-headed whipsnake (Demansia angusticeps)
Fitzroy River, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
narrow-headed whipsnake (Demansia angusticeps) distribution range map Demansia angusticeps
Narrow-headed whipsnake
Year described
(Macleay 1888)
Description
Shades of brown to yellow-brown in colour; a dark, pale-edged line is present across snout, not extending as far back as the eye; dark teardrop mark extends from eye to corner of mouth. Grey clouding present on lower edges of infralabials.1

black-necked whipsnake (Demansia calodera)
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
black-necked whipsnake (Demansia calodera) distribution range map Demansia calodera
Black-necked whipsnake
Year described
Storr 1978
Description
Olive to brown in colour with most scales possessing obscure spots; a dark, pale-edged band is present across the nape; top of head is mostly dark with a narrow pale bar above a dark teardrop mark beneath the eye.1

Carpentarian whipsnake (Demansia flagellatio)
Mt Isa, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
Carpentarian whipsnake (Demansia flagellatio) distribution range map Demansia flagellatio
Carpentarian whipsnake
Year described
Wells & Wellington 1985
Description
Small and very slender; head and nape boldly marked with yellow and black; broad yellow nuchal band and two dark bands across neck; dark bands interspaced by another yellow band. A dark, pale-edged line is present across snout; dark teardrop mark extends from eye to corner of mouth.1

olive whipsnake (Demansia olivacea)
North Kimberley, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
olive whipsnake (Demansia olivacea) distribution range map Demansia olivacea
Olive whipsnake
Year described
(Gray 1842)
Description
Very slender; grey-brown to brown above with little pattern on the body. No dark band across nape; face and throat adorned with dark streaks and blotches; dark comma-shaped streak extends from eye to mouth.

greater black whipsnake (Demansia papuensis)
North Kimberley, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
greater black whipsnake (Demansia papuensis) distribution range map Demansia papuensis
Greater black whipsnake
Year described
(Macleay 1877)
Description
A large, slender whipsnake; dark grey, brown to black above, tending to be more red posteriorly. Head usually tan in colour; sometimes a dark comma-shaped streak is present from the eye to mouth.

yellow-faced whipsnake (Demansia psammophis)
Barakula State Forest, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
yellow-faced whipsnake (Demansia psammophis) distribution range map Demansia psammophis
Yellow-faced whipsnake
Year described
(Schlegel 1837)
Description
Widespread and extremely variable between subspecies. Pale-edged dark brown ring around eye merging with dark teardrop mark from bottom of eye to corner of mouth. Dark line present across snout. Colouration is variable between subspecies, but usually varies between grey, olive, yellow or copper. Scales often dark-edged, forming a reticulated pattern.

sombre whipsnake (Demansia quaesitor)
Western Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland
Photo © Mark Sanders
sombre whipsnake (Demansia quaesitor) distribution range map Demansia quaesitor
Sombre whipsnake
Year described
Shea 2007
Description
Shades of brown, yellowish brown to black in colour; head blue-grey to orange-brown; dark band across nape with no pale edges. An obscure to distinct line is present across the snout, reaching as far back as the eye; dark teardrop mark extends from eye nearly to dark band on nape.1

reticulated whipsnake (Demansia reticulata)
Jurien Bay, Western Australia
Photo © Brendan Schembri
reticulated whipsnake (Demansia reticulata) distribution range map Demansia reticulata
Reticulated whipsnake
Year described
(Gray 1842)
Description
Greyish- or -greenish-olive. A dark edge to each scale gives a reticulated pattern. Pale-edged dark brown ring around eye merging with dark teardrop mark from bottom of eye to corner of mouth. Dark line present across snout. Demansia reticulata cupreiceps - usually have a coppery head. Occassionally have a black head. Demansia reticulata reticulata - olive-brown head.

crack-dwelling whipsnake (Demansia rimicola)
Hughenden, Queensland
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
crack-dwelling whipsnake (Demansia rimicola) distribution range map Demansia rimicola
Crack-dwelling whipsnake
Year described
Scanlon 2007
Description
Light brown to grey in colour; dark edges and brownish lines on lateral body scales form series of dark and pale stripes on sides; anterior ventral scales possess dark spots that separate and fade posteriorly. Head dark on top with a broad, pale-edged band across nape, tending to fade in older animals; dark teardrop mark extends from eye to join with dark head colouration, forming a pale bar behind eye.1

rufous whipsnake (Demansia rufescens)
Tom Price, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
rufous whipsnake (Demansia rufescens) distribution range map Demansia rufescens
Rufous whipsnake
Year described
Storr 1978
Description
Reddish to coppery brown above; head and neck grey with no dark band across nape. A dark, pale-edged streak extends across snout; dark teardrop mark extends from eye to corner of mouth.

Shine's whipsnake (Demansia shinei)
Three Ways, Northern Territory
Photo © Rob Valentic
Shine's whipsnake (Demansia shinei) distribution range map Demansia shinei
Shine's whipsnake
Year described
Shea 2007
Description
Pale brown or greyish ground colour with a brown head and yellowish tail; a brown band across nape is edged yellow on both sides. A yellow-edged teardrop mark extends from eye to corner of mouth. A dark line extends across snout, not extending back to eye. A broad lemon-yellow bar is present behind the eye. Belly yellow and patternless.1

grey whipsnake (Demansia simplex)
North Kimberley, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
grey whipsnake (Demansia simplex) distribution range map Demansia simplex
Grey whipsnake
Year described
Storr 1978
Description
A robust whipsnake; light to greyish brown in colour; lateral body scales often dark-edged anteriorly, but otherwise patterning is mostly absent. A dark teardrop mark extends from lower eye to about corner of mouth; line across front of snout obscure or non-existent.

collared whipsnake (Demansia torquata)
Mount Elliot, Queensland
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
collared whipsnake (Demansia torquata) distribution range map Demansia torquata
Collared whipsnake
Year described
(Günther 1862)
Description
Grey-brown above. Top of head is darker, bordered behind by a pale-edged black band across nape; tending to fade in older animals. A light-edged, narrow, dark bar runs across the snout from nostril to nostril.

lesser black whipsnake (Demansia vestigiata)
Western Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
lesser black whipsnake (Demansia vestigiata) distribution range map Demansia vestigiata
Lesser black whipsnake
Year described
(De Vis 1884)
Description
Dark grey, shades of brown to black above, tending to become redder posteriorly; body scales typically with dark edges. Head usually tan in colour; sometimes a dark teardrop mark is present from the eye to mouth; dark spots and blotches sometimes present on the head and neck.

References
  1. Shea, Glenn M. & Scanlon, John D. (2007). Revision of the small tropical whipsnakes previously referred to Demansia olivacea (Gray, 1842) and Demansia torquata (Günther, 1862) (Squamata: Elapidae). Records of the Australian Museum, 59:117-142.
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