About Hemiaspis signata (Jan, 1859)
Hemiaspis signata has two common names: the black-bellied swamp snake and the marsh snake. This species is a venomous elapid snake that is endemic to Australia, found only along the country’s east coast. It can be recognized by two distinct narrow white lines on its face. Its body color ranges from pale olive to black on the upper side, while its belly ranges from dark grey to black. Adult individuals of this species can reach a total length of 70 cm, though most adult specimens are smaller than this maximum. This snake’s diet consists primarily of skinks and frogs. The species was first formally described in 1859 by Giorgio Jan, under the original scientific name Alecto signata.
