moloch05
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In the last couple years, I have visited the channel country of southwestern Queensland on two occasions. The first trip was with my son in November, 2006. The daily temperatures in November were already 40C+. We found many reptiles but it was too hot to have much of a chance at finding a Fierce Snake, the species at the top of our "wish-list". I decided to try again a little earlier in the year so went on a quick 4-day trip in October of 2007. On this trip, one day was 40C but a cool change arrived and the high was only in the low 20Cs on the second day. The post will include the snakes that were encountered on these two trips.
First, here are a few habitat shots. The channel country is harsh and dry, but I think that it is beautiful in its own way. That habitat changes every few kilometers. The whole area was incredibly devoid of people.
A typical campsite.
The edge and then into the Eyrean Basin:
... gibber flats
... the bleak, cracking clay that seems like it should be devoid of life ... but it is not. This is the home of something special!
... beautiful red dunes with yellow spinifex
Night drives through the area produced a number of interesting reptiles. We found three Mulga Snakes (Pseudichis australis).
... a young one.
... a big adult that appeared to have just eaten.
In October, I saw two Speckled Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja guttata) and both put on a terrific display. They would expand a small hood and then tilt slightly while swaying from side to side. Sometimes they would also open their mouths. Both snakes ultimately took cover within cracks in the clay.
I found a single Australian Coral Snake (Brachyurophis australis) in October.
... and a single Unbanded Shovel-nosed Snake (Brachyurophis incinctus) in November. This snake elevated a portion of its body into a stiff loop, a little like the behaviour of a Bandy-bandy.
We saw two Curl Snakes (Suta suta). On both occasions, they panicked as we approached and literally hurled themselves off the road. One escaped into a crack in the soil before I could photograph it but I did manage a few photos of the second snake. Both snakes were much paler than those that I have seen further to the east.
The highlight of the trips was finding a Fierce Snake (Oxyuranus microlepidatus) that was basking on the cool morning of October. It reacted as soon as I stopped the car.
The only non-elapid encountered was this beautiful Stimson's Python (Antaresia stimsoni). It was a beautifully coloured snake that looked quite different to the race that I have seen Western Australia.
Regards,
David
First, here are a few habitat shots. The channel country is harsh and dry, but I think that it is beautiful in its own way. That habitat changes every few kilometers. The whole area was incredibly devoid of people.
A typical campsite.
The edge and then into the Eyrean Basin:
... gibber flats
... the bleak, cracking clay that seems like it should be devoid of life ... but it is not. This is the home of something special!
... beautiful red dunes with yellow spinifex
Night drives through the area produced a number of interesting reptiles. We found three Mulga Snakes (Pseudichis australis).
... a young one.
... a big adult that appeared to have just eaten.
In October, I saw two Speckled Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja guttata) and both put on a terrific display. They would expand a small hood and then tilt slightly while swaying from side to side. Sometimes they would also open their mouths. Both snakes ultimately took cover within cracks in the clay.
I found a single Australian Coral Snake (Brachyurophis australis) in October.
... and a single Unbanded Shovel-nosed Snake (Brachyurophis incinctus) in November. This snake elevated a portion of its body into a stiff loop, a little like the behaviour of a Bandy-bandy.
We saw two Curl Snakes (Suta suta). On both occasions, they panicked as we approached and literally hurled themselves off the road. One escaped into a crack in the soil before I could photograph it but I did manage a few photos of the second snake. Both snakes were much paler than those that I have seen further to the east.
The highlight of the trips was finding a Fierce Snake (Oxyuranus microlepidatus) that was basking on the cool morning of October. It reacted as soon as I stopped the car.
The only non-elapid encountered was this beautiful Stimson's Python (Antaresia stimsoni). It was a beautifully coloured snake that looked quite different to the race that I have seen Western Australia.
Regards,
David
