Bandy-bandy
The Eastern Bandy Bandy ( Vermicella annulata ) is a kind of poisonous snakes ( Elapidae ). The first description was carried out in 1841 by the British zoologist John Edward Gray. The genus name " Vermicella " roughly translated means " little worm ", the Art epithet " annulata " derives from the Latin " annulus ", meaning " curled ".
Description
The Eastern Bandy Bandy reaches a maximum length between 60 and 100 cm. Females with an average size of 54 cm larger than males with 40 cm. Young snakes measured at hatching an average of 17 cm. Thus it is one of the smallest Elapids Australia. The body is built slender and cylindrical. The oval head has small black eyes and is barely off from the rest of the body. The basic color is black. Along the entire body are distinguished sharply from white transverse bands. The underside is also white on black striated.
As snake venom of the Eastern Bandy Bandy has in the maxillary anterior two small, fixed and grooved fangs ( proteroglyphe tooth position ). About the toxin mixture of species nothing definite is known. It is reported by bite accidents, but the species is not dangerous.
Pholidose
If you look at the scalation of Vermicella annulata, show up at the head of a large, rounded rostral (nose plate), narrow mind sheds, two rear eye signs ( Postocularia ), a large front eye shield ( Praeocularia ) and two Nasalschuppen each with a centrally located, small nostril and six upper lip signs ( supralabials ), of which the third and fourth touch the eyes lower margin. The back of the shed is usually rounded. About the body is 15 rows of smooth body scales show. The anal shield ( Anal ) and the lower belly scales ( Subcaudale ) are divided into two parts.
Way of life
The way leads as grave border, living underground ( fossorial ) snake a very hidden life. Therefore, in general, little is known about their biology and lifestyle. The Eastern Bandy Bandy is sometimes observed at night after heavy rain at the surface. It feeds exclusively probably blind snakes ( Typhlopidae ), possibly also of slender skinks ( Scincidae ). When threatened, he puts a defensive attitude on the day in which the body is in several successive loops curved upward. Vermicella annulata propagates through oviparity ( oviparous ), the clutch consists of 2-13 eggs.
Occurrence and risk
Vermicella annulata is common in Australia in the states of New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. The species is thus indeed widespread, but the populations are scattered and often isolated. It is assumed that the Eastern Bandy Bandy is now classified as threatened. Mainly he suffers the loss of its habitat to agriculture, especially the plowing of the soil threatens him. In the south of the area of distribution ranged into northern Victoria, where he, however, for over a hundred years could no longer be detected. There are occupied different habitats, such as deserts and drylands, heathlands, wet coastal forests and rainforests.