Demansia psammophis

Yellow-faced Whip-Snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Demansia
Species:	D. psammophis
Binomial name
Demansia psammophis

The Yellow-faced Whip-Snake (Demansia psammophis) is a species of snake in the Elapidae family. A family containing many dangerous snakes. It is endemic to Australia.

A long thin snake with a narrow head. Greyish green in colour. The eye has a "comma" like marking to the edge of the lip, the black marking is edged with yellow. A white edged dark line is seen from the snout.

Average size 80 cm long, maximum 1.2 metres. Hatchlings 20 cm long. A lizard eating specialist, it is common throughout its range. Not an aggressive species, but the bite is to be avoided, as extreme pain will affect the bitten limb.

Demansia psammophis at Cowan Creek, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia

References

• Australian Reptile Park's Guide to Snakes of South East Australia - John Weigel ISBN 0646000063 page 50

• ITIS