Variation in Body Patterns in Juvenile Eastern Brown Snakes 'Pseudonaja Textilis' at Epping, Victoria

2008·0.61 MB·English

by  Peter Homan

NaturalistNote
Variation in body patterns in juvenile Eastern Brown Snakes
Pseudonaja textilis at Epping, Victoria
On 7 September 2007, apreliminary sur- Bougainville’s Skinks Lerista
vey of vertebrate fauna was conducted in bougainvillii, four Little Whip Snakes
an area of remnant Plains Grassy Parasutaflagellum and two juvenile
Woodland on the outskirts of Epping, Eastern Brown Snakes Pseudonaja textilis.
approximately23 km north ofMelbourne. The Eastern Brown Snake is widespread
The survey was commissioned by the over most ofVictoria, preferring dry, open
City ofWhittlesea and the purpose was to habitats (Coventry and Robertson 1991),
record the presence ofany vertebrates and such as this site at Epping. The species
give an indication of other species that thrives on the outskirts oflarge towns and
may inhabit the area. The site had numer- cities in eastern Australia and appears to
ous remnant and regenerating River Red have benefited from land clearing (Wilson
Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis, amongst and Swan 2003). Both Eastern Brown
several rocky knolls, with a sparse shrub Snakes had the usual black head and black
cover ofHedge Wattle Acacia paradoxa nuchal bar that is typical forjuveniles of
and Tree Violet Hymenanthera dentata. the species (Cogger 2000). The first speci-
The ground cover was a mixture of intro- men (Fig. 1) had a plain body with no
duced and native grasses. The area was markings, butthe second specimen (Fig. 2)
previously a grazing property, but is now had approximately 24 black bands on the
surrounded by housing estates and other body.
development, and eventually is to form The Eastern Brown Snake is an egg layer
partofan environmental reserve. andhatchlingpatternscanvary significantly
During an activeherpetofaunasearch sev- (Cogger 2000). Shine (1991) stated that the
eral species were found under rocks, banded and unbanded individuals may
including three Spotted Marsh Frogs emerge from the sameclutch and illustrated
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis one Large a one such occurrence. Cogger (2000)
,
Striped Skink Ctenotus robustus nine described juveniles with more than 50
,
Fig.1.Juvenile EasternBrownSnake:plainbody.
Vol. 125(4) 2008 117
NaturalistNote
Fig.2.JuvenileEastern Brown Snake:bandedbody
bands and illustrated a specimen from No. 0207 ofthe Wildlife and Small Institutions
Blacktown, NSW, with approximately 60 Animal Ethics Committee ofthe Department of
bands; Wilson and Swan (2003) illustrated PrimaryIndustries.
a specimen from Brisbane with more than References
50 bands. Gow (1976) illustrated a juve- Cogger H (2000) Reptiles and Amphibians of
naiplperofxriommataenlyu6n7knboawndnslaoncdatiSownanwsiotnh CoAvuesnttrralyiaA,J6tahneddnR.ob(eRretesdoBnooPks(:19C9h1a)tsTwhoeodS,naNkSeWs)of
Victoria. (Department of Conservation and
(2007) illustrated ajuvenile from Sydney Environment)
with morethan 80blackbands. Gow G (1976) Snakes ofAustralia. (Angus and
Robertson:Sydney)
The twojuvenile Eastern Brown Snakes Shine R (1991)Australiansnakes:a naturalhistory
fromEppingwere found approximately 100 (ReedNewHolland:Sydney)
m apart and appeared to be about the same Swanson S (2007)FieldGuidetoAustralianReptiles.
(SteveParishPublishing:Archerfield,Qld)
size, so it is likely that they were from the Wilson S and Swan G (2003) A Complete Guide to
sameclutchofeggs. Eachsnakewasmoved ReptilesofAustralia(ReedNewHolland:Sydney)
out ofharm’s way before the rocks were
replaced in their original positions. Once
disturbed both snakes displayed the aggres-
sive behaviour typical for the species,
Peter Homan
writhing wildly and striking, before eventu-
409CardiganStreet,
allymovingbackundertherocks. Carlton3053
email:[email protected]
Acknowledgements
Specimens mentioned in this note were handled
under the terms of Research Permit No.
10004149 issued by the Department of
Sustainability and Environment, and Approval
118 The Victorian Naturalist