Pseudonaja mengdeni
| Mengden's brown snake | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Pseudonaja |
| Species: | P. mengdeni |
| Binomial name | |
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Pseudonaja mengdeni (Wells & Wellington, 1985) |
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Pseudonaja mengdeni is commonly known as Mengden's brown snake,western brown snake and alternatively, gwardar
Pseudnaja mengdeni is endemic to Australia. It is highly variable in colour and patterns and is a highly dangerous elapid that can cause severe symptoms resulting in death if bitten. It is one of the three species originally classified as Pseudonaja nuchalis along with P. aspidorhyncha, and P. nuchalis.
Previously the Mengden's brown snake was considered a 'morph' form of Pseudonaja nuchalis, recent genetic studies have proven it to be genetically unique.
It is estimated that Pseudonaja nuchalis could include in excess of 10 different species. Although currently there have been 8 species chromosomeally identified species these include: P. aspidorhyncha, P. mengdeni, P. imperator, P. acutirostris, P. gowi, P. carinata, P. kellyi and P. nuchalis.
Pseudonaja mengdeni grows up to a total length of 2m with an average length 1.2m It has slender body and narrow head. Mengden's brown snake is highly variable in colour and patterns, ranging from light brown to almost black. However it has two distinct forms ‘Orange with black head’ or ‘Pale head, grey nape’ The underside along the belly is often cream, yellow, orange, or grey in colouration, frequently consisting of dark orange or grey blotches.
Scales on the head often form a black V or W pattern. Mengden’s brown snake can be confused with the Eastern brown snake which has a pink mouth lining, the Western brown snake has a purplish/blue-black mouth lining. P. mengdeni has a distinctive large strap-like scale around the front of the snout. To accurately identify this species the scales around the mid-body and along the lips need to be counted. 180-230 ventral scales, 45-70 subcaudals with a divided anal scale and 17 or 19 rows of smooth mid-body scales. However this must only be done by an experienced herpetologist, as a scratch from the fangs can still be fatal from P. mengdeni.
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Wikipedia