Lake Cronin snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Cronin snake |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Paroplocephalus
|
| Species: |
atriceps
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Lake Cronin snake (Paroplocephalus atriceps) is a type of venomous snake. It belongs to a special group called Paroplocephalus, which only has this one species. This snake is part of the Elapidae family, which includes many venomous snakes.
This snake lives only in western Australia. It is not very well known because it is quite rare. The Lake Cronin snake eats lizards. It is active both during the night and day. Scientists think it might also spend time in trees.
The longest Lake Cronin snake ever found was about 60 centimeters (24 inches) long, including its tail. Its head is a dull black color, and it has large eyes. The lower part of its lip has white stripes. The snake's body is brown to dark brown on top. Its belly is a lighter reddish-brown. Its scales are not shiny.
The snake gets its common name from Lake Cronin. This is an inland lake in Western Australia where the first snake of this kind was found. All the few Lake Cronin snakes ever recorded have been found near this lake or about 145 kilometers (90 miles) east at a place called Peak Eleanora.
What's in a Name?
Scientists give every animal a special scientific name. This helps everyone around the world know exactly which animal they are talking about. The Lake Cronin snake's scientific name is Paroplocephalus atriceps.
Only five of these snakes have ever been found, all near Lake Cronin. Because it is so rare, its scientific name has changed many times over the years. When it was first described in 1980 by a scientist named Glen Milton Storr, he put it in a group called Brachyaspis. But scientists later realized that name had already been used for a different animal.
Over time, as scientists learned more about snakes and how they are related, they kept moving the Lake Cronin snake into different groups. This happened because they were trying to figure out its closest relatives.
In 2000, scientists did a new study to understand how Australian snakes are related. They found that the Lake Cronin snake was closely related to snakes in the Hoplocephalus group. Because it was so unique, they decided to create a brand new group just for it. They named this new group Paroplocephalus. This name means "beside Hoplocephalus" in Greek. It shows how closely related these two snake groups are. Today, Paroplocephalus atriceps is the accepted scientific name for the Lake Cronin snake.
Further Reading
- Bush, Brian (2017) "Additions to the description of Paroplocephalus atriceps (Serpentes: Elapidae) with a discussion on pupil shape in it and other Australian snakes." Zootaxa 4344 (2): 333-344. [1]
- Ellis, R.; Shea, G. (2017). Paroplocephalus atriceps. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018.1. Downloaded on 29 July 2007.
