Acanthophis cryptamydros MADDOCK, ELLIS, DOUGHTY, SMITH & WÜSTER, 2015
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Acanthophis cryptamydros
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| Higher Taxa | Elapidae (Hydrophiinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Kimberley death adder |
| Synonym | Acanthophis cryptamydros MADDOCK, ELLIS, DOUGHTY, SMITH & WÜSTER 2015 Acanthophis lancasteri WELLS & WELLINGTON 1985: 43 (nomen nudum) Acanthophis lancasteri — WILSON & SWAN 2017 Acanthophis cryptamydros — ELLIS et al. 2021 |
| Distribution | Australia (Western Australia: Kimberley region) Type locality: 1 km north-west of Theda Station homestead, Western Australia (14°46'59.10"S, 126°29'22.02"E) |
| Reproduction | viviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: WAM R174083, medium-sized male collected on 8 March 2014 by R. Ellis, G. Bourke, and R. Barrett. Fixed in 10% formalin, stored in 70% ethanol at WAM. Liver samples stored in 100% ethanol at WAM and SAM. Paratypes. WAM R70690, sub-adult male, 45 km north-northeast Halls Creek, WA (17°51'00"S, 127°50'00"E); WAM R81245, adult male, Packsaddle Springs, near Kununurra, WA (15°54'00"S, 128°41'00"E); WAM R103755, adult male, Surveyors Pool, Mitchell River National Park, WA (14°39'46"S, 125°44'34"E); WAM R165567, adult male, Koolan Island, WA (16°08'04"S, 123°45'05"E); WAM R168918, adult female, Boongaree Island, WA (15°4'39.36"S, 125°11'13.56"E); WAM R172034, adult female, north-west Molema Island, WA (16°14'17"S, 123°49'49"E). Holotype: WAM R70690 (Western Australian Museum), adult specimen. Collected at 45 km NNE of Halls Creek, Western Australia [lancasteri] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A moderately stout Acanthophis to 645 mm total length. Distinguished from all other Australian Acanthophis by a combination of midbody scales in 22 or 23 rows, 125–139 ventrals, undivided prefrontal scales, posterior edge of frontal scale not extending beyond posterior edge of supraoculars, laterally flared supraoculars, area of lower secondary temporal scale equal to or smaller than sixth supralabial, anterior dorsal scales with prominent keels, and ventrum unpigmented except for 1–3 rows of spots on ventrolateral edge. |
| Comment | Synonymy: closely related to A. hawkei with which A. lancasteri has also been synonymized. The description of A. lancasteri refers to a geographic population of A. praelongus as described in Storr 1981 without further diagnosis, hence it is a nomen nudum. Wellington 2016 contested the validity of A. cryptamydros, but see Ellis et al. 2021 for further details. Diet: frogs, lizards, and mammals. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet is modified from the Greek words kryptos (cryptic, hidden) and amydros (indistinct, dim) in reference to the cryptic nature of the species and its indistinct appearance relative to its surroundings making its presence unknown to predators and prey. Used as a noun in apposition. Acanthophis lancasteri was named after American actor (“and philosopher”) Burt Lancaster (with the philosopher part probably referring to Lancaster’s political activism). |
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