Description
A small to medium-sized snake; black with numerous yellow markings arranged in irregular, narrow cross bands down its body. Its belly is a bluish grey and can be splotched with yellow. Its head is much wider than its neck. Females tend to be larger than males. Body length up to 90 cm.
Nocturnal, but can be found active at dusk. It is an ambush predator, preying mostly on lizards and frogs. During colder months it can be found on the sandstone outcrops; however, during the warmer months it can be found in tree hollows. Females give birth to between 4 and 12 live young, which can take 4 to 6 years to reach maturity. Once quite common, Broad-headed Snakes are currently listed as endangered in New South Wales and vulnerable under Commonwealth legislation. Loss of habitat through increasing urbanisation and the removal of bush rock for landscaping are some of the main reasons for its decline. Bush rock removal impacts on sheltering and foraging sites for the snake and also results in loss of habitat for its prey.
Author credit: Ross Sadlier / Australian Museum
Habitat
Woodlands, open woodlands and heaths in areas with sandstone outcrops.
Food
Carnivore
Range
South-eastern Australia
Credits:
Map is from Atlas of Living Australia website at https://biocache.ala.org.au licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Species Description is from Museums Field Guide, Atlas of Living Australia at website at https://lists.ala.org.au Licensed under Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Classification
| Class: | Reptilia | | Order: | Squamata (Serpentes) | | Family: | Elapidae | | Genus: | Hoplocephalus | | Species: | bungaroides | | Common Name: | Broad-headed Snake |
|
