The dugite (Pseudonaja affinis) is a fascinating diurnal (active mainly during the day) snake with a broad diet, including frogs but with a preference for reptiles, birds and mammals (including the introduced house mouse - which may explain why it loves urban areas ... well and we built our homes on top of theirs!). Interestingly the species is also known to be cannibalistic - feeding on other snakes. Check out a news article highlighting this fascinating behaviour here.
The species is widespread in the South-west occupying a range of habitats including coastal dunes, heathlands, shrublands, and inland wetlands. The mainland species can reach lengths of up to 2 m but more commonly encountered snakes are often in the 1-1.5 m range. The males can mature as early as 58 cm (snout-vent length*) and the females mature as early as 68 cm (snout-vent length). During mating season (winter-early spring) males will combat each other by entwining their bodies together. Females will lay a clutch of eggs in late spring-early summer, ranging from as few as 11 eggs to as much as 35!! Snakes can often get a bit of a bad reputation and the dugite in Perth is no exception. More often than not I see stories on the news highlighting another person that has been bitten (often due to trying to pick up the snake and move it), or I hear from people that had one in the back garden so they killed it to protect their child or dog. So I want to finish this blog off with a bit of education now that the warmer months are fast approaching. Now although they are indeed a venomous snake and should be treated with respect, there are many precautions you can easily take to minimise the risk with snake interactions highlighted on the DPAW (DBCA) website. One such precaution is "Keep a watchful eye on the ground about a metre ahead of where you are walking, and avoid entering areas of long grass, rushes and undergrowth." You would be amazed by how short this "long grass" can be in order for the dugite to disappear right before your eyes (see image at the bottom of the blog - seconds after this photo was taken it completely disappeared from view). If you find them on your property ensure the snake is not accessible to any pets or children, and before you think about reaching for your shovel to kill it, your next step should be contacting the Wildcare Helpline (08) 9474 9055 which can refer you to local reptile removers that will happily come by your place and relocate the snake. With a little care and respect we can co-exist with these amazing creatures. *Snout-vent length - The measurement from the tip of the nose (snout) to the anus (vent) excluding the tail Did you know?
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AuthorMy name is Garry and I am extremely passionate about the environment. I have completed my BSc. Conservation and Wildlife Biology with First Class Honours and have worked in the Environment sector since 2009. Archives
September 2019
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Photos used under Creative Commons from sean.kelleher1, BioDivLibrary, BioDivLibrary