Rumpleseed
Not so new Member
Snakes are found around residential properties for a number of different reasons. Snakes are very primitive creatures, they require food; water and shelter just like most animals, and do not exist on this earth to end human life. Snakes play a very important part in our environment and if they were removed populations which they control would explode, these include mice, rats, frogs and skinks.
Snake prevention is very simple, think as though you were preparing for a bush fire. Keep grass low and gardens simple. Avoid keeping wood piles close to residences, keep rubbish heaps and composts tidy, control mouse populations by baiting or trapping.
Always remember that we have moved into their environment not the reverse, if we want to live with nature we have to except all of nature, not just the cute and cuddlies but the scaleys too!
Red Bellied Black Snake
Pseudechis poryphriacus
Description: Commonly and distinctively glossy black, sometimes snout is tipped light brown. Outer sides and ventral or belly is bright red fading to dull pinkish red.
Northern species tend to have reduced red colouration sometimes replaced by blueish to gray ventrals.
Lengths
2.0m(6ft) Max
1.2m(4ft) Ave
180mm Juvinle
Weight
1.5kg
400g
10g
Midbody
17
Ventrals
170-215
Caudal
Sub caudal
40-65
Natural History:
Usually observed along streams, rivers, marshes, swamps and creeks. Forages widely and males in particular will travel some distance in Spring looking for potential mates. Habitats while usually in vicinity of water can be found away from such areas.
Behaviour:
Usually seen to flee away from disturbance and often take flight into water where it may remain submerged for some time. When threatened this snake will hiss, flatten its neck and sometimes thrash violently. While this snake may bite if injured or attacked it still commonly will hope to bluff its way out of trouble
Diet:
Largely frog predators also will take lizards e. g Garden skinks. Occasionally ophiophagus and takes snakes of various species.
Reproduction:
A maximum-recorded number of live young were 80. However the average is 8 - 40 usually born in membranous sacs form which they emerge minutes after.
Conservation Significance:
Some local populations suffer in North Queensland from the spread of cane toads, Due to its poisonous glands which secrete a toxin. The urban sprawl also seems to affect the Red Bellied Black Snake whether from lack of home sites or food losses is not clear. Rarely seen in Melbourne Metropolitan, remains common in Sydney regions. Frog numbers if adversely affected will also affect this snake in it's habitat.
Just a mind dump on my part for those who are interested
Snake prevention is very simple, think as though you were preparing for a bush fire. Keep grass low and gardens simple. Avoid keeping wood piles close to residences, keep rubbish heaps and composts tidy, control mouse populations by baiting or trapping.
Always remember that we have moved into their environment not the reverse, if we want to live with nature we have to except all of nature, not just the cute and cuddlies but the scaleys too!
Red Bellied Black Snake
Pseudechis poryphriacus
Description: Commonly and distinctively glossy black, sometimes snout is tipped light brown. Outer sides and ventral or belly is bright red fading to dull pinkish red.
Northern species tend to have reduced red colouration sometimes replaced by blueish to gray ventrals.
Lengths
2.0m(6ft) Max
1.2m(4ft) Ave
180mm Juvinle
Weight
1.5kg
400g
10g
Midbody
17
Ventrals
170-215
Caudal
Sub caudal
40-65
Natural History:
Usually observed along streams, rivers, marshes, swamps and creeks. Forages widely and males in particular will travel some distance in Spring looking for potential mates. Habitats while usually in vicinity of water can be found away from such areas.
Behaviour:
Usually seen to flee away from disturbance and often take flight into water where it may remain submerged for some time. When threatened this snake will hiss, flatten its neck and sometimes thrash violently. While this snake may bite if injured or attacked it still commonly will hope to bluff its way out of trouble
Diet:
Largely frog predators also will take lizards e. g Garden skinks. Occasionally ophiophagus and takes snakes of various species.
Reproduction:
A maximum-recorded number of live young were 80. However the average is 8 - 40 usually born in membranous sacs form which they emerge minutes after.
Conservation Significance:
Some local populations suffer in North Queensland from the spread of cane toads, Due to its poisonous glands which secrete a toxin. The urban sprawl also seems to affect the Red Bellied Black Snake whether from lack of home sites or food losses is not clear. Rarely seen in Melbourne Metropolitan, remains common in Sydney regions. Frog numbers if adversely affected will also affect this snake in it's habitat.
Just a mind dump on my part for those who are interested
