Common tiger otters
| Common tiger otters | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common tiger otter ( Notechis scutatus ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Notechis scutatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Peters , 1861) |
The common tiger otter ( Notechis scutatus ) is one of only two species of the poisonous snake genus of the tiger otters ( Notechis ), a genus of the Elapidae family (poisonous snakes). Like that of the black tiger otter ( N. ater ), its distribution is limited to southern Australia .
features
The common tiger otter reaches a body length of a maximum of about 1.20 meters and is slightly shorter than the black tiger otter with up to about 1.50 meters. The basic color of the common tiger otter is very variable and ranges from light gray to olive green, brown or brownish red with more or less pronounced crossbars; in very rare cases black animals also occur. The belly side can be creamy white, light gray, light green or yellowish, below the throat and the tail it is often dark gray.
The large, almost square frontal shield on the top of the head is characteristic of the genus . The anterior temporal is also very large and at least as long or longer than the anterior . Subocularia are absent, but an internasal is formed. All body scales are smooth and form 19 in the middle of the body, and in rare cases 15 to 21, rows of scales. The ventral side is formed from 140 to 190 ventralia . Both the anal shield and the 35 to 65 subcaudalia are undivided.
distribution and habitat
Tiger otters are found exclusively in the south of Australia, whereby the ranges of the two species do not overlap. The black tiger otter lives on the southwestern tip of Western Australia and Tasmania, while the common tiger otter is distributed from south Queensland via New South Wales to Victoria in the area of the RMurray and Murrumbidgee Rivers and the extreme south-east of South Australia .
The snake lives primarily in the highlands and is found there in a number of different habitats. In the north, this can be wet rainforests, but in the south it occurs in drier areas.
Way of life
The common tiger otter is primarily active during the day and at twilight, and night activity occurs on particularly hot days. The offspring is born alive, the snake is correspondingly ovoviviparous . A litter consists of around 30 young snakes, with a range from 19 to 109 being documented.
Snake venom
The tiger otters are considered to be very dangerous snakes because they have a very potent venom and also come into frequent contact with humans. Accordingly, a very large proportion of fatal snake bite accidents in Australia can be traced back to the two species of this genus. Despite these numbers, they are considered to be less aggressive and only attack when there is a malfunction.
An antivenin against the poison of the tiger otters was developed very early and the composition and effects of snake venom have been very well researched.
literature
- Harold G. Cogger: Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. 6th edition. Ralph Curtis Books, Sanibel, Florida 2000, ISBN 0-88359-048-4 , pp. 658-660.
