Eastern dwarf mulga snake

The eastern dwarf mulga snake (Pseudechis pailsei), also known commonly as the eastern pygmy mulga snake and the false king brown snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species, which is native to Australia, was genetically confirmed as a distinct species in 2017.[3]

Eastern dwarf mulga snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Pseudechis
Species:
P. pailsei
Binomial name
Pseudechis pailsei
(Hoser, 1998)
Synonyms[2]
  • Pailsus pailsei
    Hoser, 1998
  • Pailsus pailsi
    Wüster et al., 2001
  • Pseudechis pailsei
    — Wüster et al., 2005
  • Pseudechis pailsi
    Maddock et al., 2017

Taxonomy

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The eastern dwarf mulga snake was originally described in 1998 as Pailsus pailsei by Raymond Hoser. Wolfgang Wüster identified that its specific name should be spelt pailsi under taxonomic rules in 2001.[4] However, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Article 32.5.1) the original spelling should still be used, even though it is an incorrect latinisation.[2]

Etymology

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The specific name, pailsei, is in honour of Australian reptile breeder Roy Pails (born 1956).[5]

Geographic distribution

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Pseudechis pailsei is found in northern Queensland, Australia.[2]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitat of Pseudechis pailsei is rocky areas of grassland and shrubland.[1]

Description

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Pseudechis pailsei may attain a total length (tail included) of 107 cm (42 in).[2]

References

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  1. 1 2 Wilson, S.; Hobson, R.; Vanderduys, E.; Sanderson, C.; Dickman, C. (2018). "Pseudechis pailsi [sic]". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T42493251A42493257.en. Accessed on 27 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Species Pseudechis pailsei at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Maddock, Simon T.; Childerstone, Aaron; Fry, Bryan Grieg; Williams, David J.; Barlow, Axel; Wüster, Wolgang (2017). "Multi-locus phylogeny and species delimitation of Australo-Papuan blacksnakes (Pseudechis Wagler, 1830: Elapidae: Serpentes)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 107: 48–55. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.09.005. PMID 27637992. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  4. Wüster, W.; Bush, B.; Keogh, J.S.; O'Shea, M.; Shine, R. (2001). "Taxonomic contributions in the "amateur" literature: comments on recent descriptions of new genera and species by Raymond Hoser" (PDF). Litteratura Serpentium. 21: 67–91.
  5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Pseudechis pailsei, p. 199).

Further reading

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