Strap-snouted brown snake
The strap-snouted brown snake (Pseudonaja aspidorhyncha) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. P. aspidorhyncha is part of a species complex that also includes P. mengdeni and P. nuchalis; all were formerly included in the latter species. Taxonomy Frederick McCoy described the species in 1879 as the shield-fronted brown snake, distinguishing it from the eastern brown snake (P. textilis) by its narrow head, truncated snout and large rostral plate over the back of its head, He noted its similarity to the western brown snake (P. nuchalis). Heber Longman described Diemenia carinata in 1915 from a specimen from Cane Grass Station near Charleville in southwestern Queensland. it was known locally as "tiger snake". Francis J. Mitchell of the South Australian Museum described Demansia acutirostris from an island in Lake Eyre, noting its depressed snout distinguishing it from other brown snakes. Australian herpetologist Richard W. Wells divided P. nuchalis into eight species, recognising P. aspidorhyncha, P. carinata and P acutirostris as distinct. These additional species have not been recognized by other authors, and Wells has been strongly criticized for lack of rigour in his research. For