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Ornamental snake
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Denisonia
Species:	D. maculata
Binomial name
Denisonia maculata (Steindachner, 1867)

The ornamental snake (Denisonia maculata) is a small elapid snake found in the Brigalow Belt (both North and South) and Desert Uplands bioregions of Queensland, Australia. Ornamental snakes grow to about 40 centimetres in length and appear to be primarily frog eaters. They are nocturnal, and are thought to shelter in soil cracks during the day. They tend to be found in areas of deeply cracking, alluvial soils.

While not generally regarded as dangerous to humans, bites from this species may result in localised swelling and loss of consciousness. Large specimens should be treated with caution.

References

1. Venz, M.; Vanderduys, E.; Hobson, R.; Sanderson, C.; Dickman, C.; Wilson, S. (2017). "Denisonia maculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T6488A83768267. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T6488A83768267.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. Shine, R. (1983). "Food habits and reproductive biology of Australian elapid snakes of the genus Denisonia". Journal of Herpetology. 17 (2): 171–175. doi:10.2307/1563458. JSTOR 1563458.
3. Blomberg, S. P. (1997). "Local symptoms of envenomation by the Ornamental snake, Denisonia maculata (Steindachner): Elapidae". Herpetofauna. 27 (1): 46–48.
4. Kellaway, C. H. (1934). "The venom of the ornamented snake Denisonia maculata". Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science. 12 (2): 47–54. doi:10.1038/icb.1934.7.

External links

• Media related to Denisonia maculata at Wikimedia Commons
• Species Denisonia maculata at The Reptile Database

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• IUCN Red List data deficient species
• Snakes of Australia
• Vulnerable fauna of Australia
• Reptiles described in 1867
• Denisonia
• Taxa named by Franz Steindachner
• Queensland stubs
• Elapidae stubs