Yellow-faced Whip Snake - Demansia psammophis

[Ceratodromeus]

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Demansia
Species: D. psammophis

Description
These snakes are called "whipsnakes" because they have a long, slender body, head, and tail. Typical coloration is a light grey or olive with some individuals having hues of light red or pink on them. Occasionally, an odd colored individual sporting dark browns or oranges (predominately on the head and tail) will pop up in a population. The species is characterized by a light colored ring around each eye. The species is sexually dimorphic, with males attaining larger body sizes then the females. Males range from 40-83cm(1.3-2.7ft) in snout-vent length; most individuals measure 55-58cm(1.8-1.9ft) in snout-vent length. Females range from 40.9-75cm(1.34-2.4ft) in snout-vent length, with most individuals measuring 52cm(1.7ft){1}.

Geographic range
The species can be found throughout most of Southern Australia.

Dietary habits
The snake is considered Saurophagous -- a lizard eating specialist. Species documented in the diet of D. psammophis include the variegated dtella(Gehyra variegata), Lesueur's Gecko(oedura lesueurii), striped skink(C. taeniolatus), Garden skink (Lampropholis delicata) Common garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti), weasel skink (Lampropholis mustelina), and the Eastern water skink (sphenomorphus[Eulamprus] quoyii). Snakes have also been recorded in the diet of this snake, at least one case of cannibalism on a juvenile conspecific exists, and predation on a green tree snake(Dendrelaphis punctulata) has also been recorded{2}.Amphibians have also been documented being taken by the yellow faced whipsnake, the whistling tree frog(Litoria verreauxii) being the nominate species{1}. Prey is seized by the nape of the neck typically, and held until the venom of the snake takes effect. Captive individuals have been known to throw coils around their prey, but do not appear to apply pressure; this is likely a behavior to ensure that the prey animal does not escape{3}.

Reproduction
Mating occurs at the end of the calendar year, with females laying anywhere from 3-9 eggs. The eggs measure 2.58cm-4.10cm(1.01-1.61in)in length, and are 1.16-1.39cm(0.45-0.54in) wide. This snake has been documented communally laying their eggs{4} -- many adults using the same nesting site. Upon hatching, the young of D. psammophis measure roughly 17cm(6.6in) in snout-vent length{1}

References
{1} Shine, Richard. "Ecology of eastern Australian whipsnakes of the genus Demansia." Journal of Herpetology (1980): 381-389.
{2} Hoser, T. R. "Notes on feeding interaction in Australian Reptiles." Herpetofauna 23.1 (1993): 32-35.
{3}Shine, Richard, and Terry Schwaner. "Prey constriction by venomous snakes: a review, and new data on Australian species." Copeia (1985): 1067-1071.
{4} Covacevich, Jeanette, and Colin Limpus. "Observations on community egg-laying by the yellow-faced whip snake, Demansia psammophis (Schlegel) 1837 (Squamata: Elapidae)." Herpetologica (1972): 208-210.