The highland copperhead (Austrelaps ramsayi), also known as Ramsay's copperhead,[3] is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae endemic to Australia.
Gerard Krefft described the highland copperhead in 1864 as Hoplocephalus ramsayi from a specimen collected in Braidwood, New South Wales.[4] The specific name, ramsayi, is in honour of Edward Pierson Ramsay, who was an Australian ornithologist, herpetologist,[3] and who collected the holotype specimen.[4]
A. ramsayi has an average total length (including tail) of 113 cm (44 inches). It can vary in upper (dorsal) colour from mid to very dark brown with a creamy yellow belly tinged with red between the differing colours.
The highlands copperhead inhabits the Alpine regions of eastern Australia, and is common in the Southern Highlands of NSW, including Mittagong, Bowral and Moss Vale.
A. ramsayi is found in montane heath, woodland, sclerophyll forests, along water bodies, and in swampy areas with thick clumps of tussock grass.[5]
Austrelaps ramsayi is ovoviviparous, with between 9 and 31 young per brood.[6]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) The highland copperhead (Austrelaps ramsayi), also known as Ramsay's copperhead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae endemic to Australia.
