Vermicella is a genus of venomous snakes of the family Elapidae, commonly known as bandy-bandies or hoop snakes. The best known species is the bandy-bandy (V. annulata).
Species Six species are recognized as being valid.. www.reptile-database.org. In mid 2018 a new species of bandy-bandy was discovered in Australia, visually nearly identical to Vermicella annulata. The species named Vermicella parscauda is considerably more venomous, with a toxin that is comparable to that of the red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus).
Vermicella annulata – bandy-bandy One species of Vermicella is the Bandy-Bandy commonly found in Australia. This snake is highly venomous and relatively small, sizing between 50 and 100 cm. Bandy-Bandies use their banded black and white pattern to repel predators by moving rapidly, causing a flicker visual illusion. Vermicella intermedia – intermediate bandy-bandy Vermicella multifasciata – northern bandy-bandy Vermicella snelli – Pilbara bandy-bandy Vermicella vermiformis – Centralian bandy-bandy Vermicella parscauda – Weipa bandy-bandy.
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Vermicella.
References
Further reading Gray JE (1858). In: Günther A (1858). Catalogue of the Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xvi + 281 pp. (Vermicella, new genus, p. 236).
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