Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Aspidomorphus muelleri

Aspidomorphus muelleri, also known commonly as Müller's crown snake and Müller's crowned snake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. The species is native to Oceania. There are three recognized subspecies.

Last revised
Jul 27, 2026
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≈ 2 min
Length
461 w
Citations
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Aspidomorphus muelleri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Aspidomorphus
Species:
A. muelleri
Binomial name
Aspidomorphus muelleri
(Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms2
  • Elaps muelleri
    Schlegel, 1837
  • Pseudelaps muelleri
    (Schlegel, 1837)

Aspidomorphus muelleri, also known commonly as Müller's crown snake and Müller's crowned snake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae.2 The species is native to Oceania. There are three recognized subspecies.

Etymology

The specific name, muelleri, is in honor of German naturalist Salomon Müller.3: 184 

Description

Aspidomorphus muelleri may attain a total length of 50 cm (20 in), including a tail length of 7 cm (2.8 in). It has six upper labials, the third and fourth in contact with the eye. The dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The anal plate is divided.4

Geographic distribution

Aspidomorphus muelleri is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.2

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Aspidomorphus muelleri are forest, shrubland, and grassland, at elevations of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft).1

Behavior

Aspidomorphus muelleri is terrestrial.1

Reproduction

Aspidomorphus muelleri is oviparous.2

Subspecies

The following three subspecies of Aspidomorphus muelleri are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.2

  • Aspidomorphus muelleri muelleri (Schlegel, 1837)
  • Aspidomorphus muelleri interruptus Brongersma, 1934
  • Aspidomorphus muelleri lineatus Brongersma, 1934
References

References

  1. Tallowin, O.; Allison, A. (2022) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Aspidomorphus muelleri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T196567A217771523. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T196567A217771523.en. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. "Aspidomorphus muelleri ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  3. Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
  4. Boulenger, G.A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III. Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Pseudelaps muelleri, pp. 316–317).
Further reading

Further reading

  • Brongersma, L.D. (1934). "Contributions to Indo-Australian Herpetology". Zoologische Mededeelingen. 17 (3/4): 161–251 + Plates I–II. (Aspidomorphus mülleri interruptus, new subspecies, pp. 231–232 + Plate II, figure 6; A. m. lineatus, new subspecies, pp. 232–234).
  • McDowell, S.B.; Cogger, H.G. (1967). "Aspidomorphus, a genus of New Guinea snakes of the Family Elapidae, with notes on related genera". Journal of Zoology. 151 (4): 497–543.
  • O'Shea, M. (1996). A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Independent Group Ltd. ISBN 978-9810078362. xii + 239 pp. (in English and Creole).
  • Schlegel, H. (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale xxviii + 251 pp. AND Partie Descriptive 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. ("Elaps müllerii ", new species, pp. 452–454 + Plate XVI, figures 16–17 in Partie Descriptive). (in French).