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Naped snakes
Furina - Duméril, 1853

Pronunciation: fue-REE-nah
 Etymology: possibly after the Roman goddess, Furrina.1

Taxonomic notes:

Some members of this genus were previously placed in Glyphodon.

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 5 out of 5 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: red-naped snake (Furina diadema) at 40 cm
 Longest Australian species: brown-headed snake (Furina tristis) at up to 100 cm
Number of Australian species: 5
 

yellow-naped snake (Furina barnardi)
Speewah, Queensland
Photo © Brendan Schembri
yellow-naped snake (Furina barnardi) distribution range map Furina barnardi
Yellow-naped snake
Year described
(Kinghorn 1939)
Description
Nasal scale is reported by some to be divided2,3, but others report it as being undivided4. The original description reports the nasal scale as being "slightly grooved, especially on the lower half"5.

red-naped snake (Furina diadema)
Mingela, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
red-naped snake (Furina diadema) distribution range map Furina diadema
Red-naped snake
Year described
(Schlegel 1837)
Description
Nasal scale undivided. A character commonly used to identify this species is the red blotch on nape that is completely enclosed by black (vs incompletely enclosed in the orange-naped snake (Furina ornata)).

Dunmall's snake (Furina dunmalli)
Yuleba, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
Dunmall's snake (Furina dunmalli) distribution range map Furina dunmalli
Dunmall's snake
Year described
(Worrell 1955)
Description
Nasal scale divided.

orange-naped snake (Furina ornata)
Alpha, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
orange-naped snake (Furina ornata) distribution range map Furina ornata
Orange-naped snake
Year described
(Gray 1842)
Description
Nasal scale undivided. A character commonly used to identify this species is the red blotch on nape that is not completely enclosed by black (vs completely enclosed in the red-naped snake (Furina diadema)).

brown-headed snake (Furina tristis)
Iron Range, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
brown-headed snake (Furina tristis) distribution range map Furina tristis
Brown-headed snake
Year described
(Günther 1858)
Description
Nasal scale divided.

References
  1. Storr, G. M.; Smith, L. A.; & Johnstone, R. E. (2002). Snakes of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum. 309 - search web for this book
  2. Wilson, Steve (2005). A Field Guide to Reptiles of Queensland. Reed New Holland. 256pp
  3. Cogger, Harold G. (2000). Reptiles & amphibians of Australia. Reed New Holland. 808 pp - search web for this book
  4. Scanlon, John D. (2003). The Australian elapid genus Cacophis: morphology and phylogeny of rainforest crowned snakes. Herpetological Journal, 13:1-20.
  5. Kinghorn, J.R. (1939). Two Queensland snakes. Records of the Australian Museum, 20(4):257-260.
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